Crete woodworker crafts desks for remote learners
Crete resident Mike Hakenjos was at home watching a news story about a man in California who built two desks for his children during remote learning and thinking it was a great idea. Later that week he would use his woodworking skills to create three desk prototypes.
With support and assistance from Crete Lions Club, his idea has become a welcome reality for students like 6-year-old Cherish Lucas at Crete Elementary School, one of three siblings trying to do remote learning while their mom, Shaniquaw Warren, is pregnant and dealing with medical issues.
Her first grade teacher, Celeste Parker, was happy to offer her one of Hakenjos’ desks.
“It’s almost as if Mr. Hakenjos heard my Christmas wish,” she said. “His generosity means the world to me and I’m sure to Cherish and her family.”
Kindergarten teacher Cindy Yaverski said there is an acute need for the desks, particularly for young students.
“While teaching remotely we noticed our kindergarten kids were sitting on the floor trying to do their work or trying to sit at a coffee table and do their work packets. These desks can help keep them organized and feel like they are at school, she said, adding now “they have their own special place to work.”
Hakenjos said he did not add a finish to the pine desks to allow kids to personalize them and make them their own. And while he doesn’t have school-aged children, he said he was “struck” hearing all the stories of what parents are going through at home.
“I realized that remote learning presents such a tough challenge for kids and families,” he said.
So far, he and his helpers have built 40 desks with support from community members at “building parties” along with materials funded by the Crete Lions Club. As word continues to spread and orders pile up, Hakenjos said he is a “little overwhelmed” but not deterred.
“As long as there is a demand for them, I’ll keep making ‘em,” he said.
Bremen students stuff buses with donated food
Bremen High School’s National Honor Society and Student Council collected enough nonperishable food to fill 2 whole minibuses and raised $3,700 in donations during its annual Pack the Bus food drive just after Thanksgiving.
Though they couldn’t go door to door this year as usual to pick up grocery bags filled with food from area residents, they established drop-off locations in Midlothian, Markham and Oak Forest.
Free COVID-19 testing in Hazel Crest
The village of Hazel Crest offers free COVID-19 mouth swab testing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Hazel Crest Family Center, 16990 S. Dixie Highway. The tests are free and available to all south suburban residents.
All tests will be conducted as a drive-thru by Molecular Diagnostic Labs, which will also provide testing results directly to residents, according to Hazel Crest Village President Vernard L. Alsberry Jr. More information is at 312-883-7090.
SXU students, staff look to help out for holidays
Saint Xavier University faculty, staff and students are giving back for the holiday season to those who were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact as offices, departments and student organizations all around campus are holding drives and collections.
The Office of University Relations held a Thanksgiving food drive to benefit the Pilgrim Faith Food Pantry in Oak Lawn. They collected nonperishable items, diapers and money and delivered over 15 large bags of food to the pantry, enough to feed over 20 families this holiday season.
The TRIO Student Success Program collected donations to support BEDS Plus, a homeless shelter in Worth.
And the Transfer Student Services Center and Tau Sigma members gathered to collect items to send overseas for the troops along with handmade Christmas cards and also assembled goody bags for residents of the Belhaven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Chicago, though they were unable to visit the residents to play bingo and sing Christmas carols as usual.
The SXU Athletics Department donated gifts for children who attend Barbara Vick Early Childhood and Family Centers and Esmond Elementary School in Chicago. The department collected gifts through early December and had a socially-distanced gift-wrapping day in the SXU Shannon Center.
SXU is proud of how its staff, faculty and students come together in times of distress to lead in living the mission of service excellence.