Students visited and played board games with residents at the Providence Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center for the first DGN Gives Back Day
Over 75 students from Downers Grove North High School participated in the school’s first “DGN Gives Back” day on Saturday, October 10. Student volunteers were dispatched to organizations throughout the local community, each of which planned service projects for the students to work on.
The idea follows the example of the national “Make a Difference” day (www.makeadifferenceday.com), whose mission is to improve the lives of others through service.
Students gathered at the school in the morning and shared breakfast together before boarding buses to travel to their volunteer assignments. Students representing a variety of school groups provided services to the following organizations:
• Advocate Health Good Samaritan Hospital – Students transformed drab entryways into colorful murals during the hospital’s construction period…
• Downers Grove Library – Students cleaned and dusted bookshelves…
• DuPage PADS – Students painted two apartments for the permanent supportive housing program…
• Family Shelter Services – Students went door to door, distributing flyers to neighbors announcing the organization’s annual race…
• Providence Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center – Students visited and played board games with residents…
• Sharing Connections – Students organized donated furniture and home items…
“The day was incredible and I could not be more proud of our students and the energy they brought to their assignments,” says Department Chair of Career and Technical Education Mark Mirandola and sponsor of the event. “The community organizations were extremely and genuinely appreciative of our efforts, and we have every intention to make this an annual event.” Megan Hurley, a special services teacher, was also a sponsor.
>> To see photos from the day, please click here.
>> To see a video of the day and hear from the organizations, please click here.
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