lakecountycares.org
by suzanne myers Contributing Columnist February 7, 2012 5:42PM
Lake Forest Girl Scouts Katie Constantine and Mallory Gregory. | Suzanne Myers~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 7, 2012 5:42PM
School-aged girls and their moms gathered at Lake Forest’s Gorton Community Center Feb. 3 to participate in Lake County Cares’ annual Heart 2 Heart event to support women in need in Lake County. At this mother-daughter community service event, guests assembled Valentine’s Day “spa bags” full of donated cosmetics and toiletries, and also made handmade Valentines to include in each bag. These bags will be given to women who are in the care of A Safe Place, the Lake County Haven, Women’s Residential Services, Northern Illinois Counseling on Alcoholism Substance Abuse, PADS Lake County, the Holy Family Food Pantry and the Zacharias Center.
This year, Lake Forest’s Girl Scout Troop 40980 partnered with Lake County Cares to help run the event. The Girl Scouts orchestrated a monthlong toiletry drive, publicized the event and planned the details from start to finish. The scouts decorated Gorton with pink, purple and red décor, splashes of candy hearts, plenty of confetti, glittery streamers and a disco ball.
Area Girl Scouts were invited to the event and the first 50 scouts who arrived earned limited edition Girl Scout patches.
“It was a really fun event and I enjoyed working for Lake County Cares,” said Girl Scout Kari Myers, 11.
Enthusiasm filled the room, and guests created more than 300 pink gift bags. They sat in front of a warm fire, enjoyed pink lemonade and cookies, and carefully created handmade cards for the women in need in Lake County while spending time with friends and neighbors.
Girl Scout Mallory Gregory, 11, said, “I loved being a part of the Heart 2 Heart event. If I had to, I would do it all over again.”
“I think participating in this event was a wonderful experience for the girls,” said Maxwell Gregory, troop leader. “They have given a gesture of hope and caring to over 300 women in need. I am very proud of all they have accomplished.”
Lake County Cares is a nonprofit organization that helps people find positive and productive volunteer experiences that match their interests and desired time commitment.
The mission of Lake County Care’s Heart 2 Heart event is to provide assistance to local women in crisis. Since 2007, Lake County Cares has assembled and delivered more than 750 personal hygiene kits for women in the care of Lake County agencies.
For more information on Lake County Cares, visit lakecountycares.org.
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