Change for Hunger set new records this year, with area school children and youth raising over $36,000 to help provide food for hungry neighbors.
Under the leadership of Mary Fontain, in the 2021-22 school year, 18 schools with over 18,000 students participated by contributing spare change, holding fundraisers and contests to help provide food. Their total raised is the equivalent of $289,544 worth of food if purchased in the grocery store!
Schools participating included Abbott and Kenyon Woods Middle schools, Bartlett, Larkin, South Elgin, Streamwood and Elgin High Schools, Einstein Academy, Elgin Academy and Summit School and Century Oaks, Clinton, Coleman, Fox Meadow, Hilltop, Huff, Lord’s Park and Wayne Elementary Schools.
Schools had contests, educational themes, and homes in which no sofa cushion went unturned to pull together what they could
This was the first year for Elgin Academy, Huff Elementary, and Lords Park Elementary Schools. Larkin
High, Kenyon Woods, and Wayne Elementary have participated all nine years that we have held Change for Hunger!
Other notable strategies or accomplishments included:
- Most pennies: Coleman Elementary which turned in over 20,000 pennies!
- Pie Throwing Event at Century Oaks Elementary
- No-Cook nights at Bear Family McDonalds (Clinton Elementary ) and Culvers of Elgin by Elgin Academy
Local businesses pitched in as well, with Blackhawk Bank, Brittain’s Car wash, Brittain’s Oil and Lube,
Country Financial, Edward Jones (both Colin Marquardt and Michael McKay offices), Elarasys Worldwide, FLP Tax Services, Hampton Lenzini and Renwick, Inc., Hoffer Family Foundation, Hopp Accounting Tax Services, Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation, Kenneth Shuring and the Illinois Tool Works, Middleby Corporation and SMC Construction Services each adding to area schools.
A special shout-out goes to Maximiliano Gonzalez of Century Oaks Elementary School, who was bringing in so much money that his teacher called his parents to make sure that they knew that this was happening. “Oh yes,” they said. “Maximiliano thought about it and decided to contribute all of his allowance that he had saved up to help those who were not as well off.”
“It is very touching,” commented FFGE Executive Director Michael Montgomery. “These children have
friends who don’t have enough to eat. Many know what it feels like to have that tightness in your belly
when you need some food. They responded with joy and generosity to the needs of their neighbors.
We can all learn from them.”
We’ll see you next year, Change For Hunger!