Community Corner

ShareFest Volunteerism By the Numbers

The annual volunteer event was bigger than ever this year, with 11 Days of Giving to extend collections for food, toys, clothing, items for troops and more. Get a glimpse at how many people helped and what was collected.

During this year's ShareFest, the big number was 11.

The annual event, which brings together volunteers to help with service projects and collection drives for various items, expanded its reach this year by adding the "11 Days of Giving," which set up collection points throughout the village for a week and a half.

Here are some other numbers from ShareFest that show the impact of the event (many numbers are current estimates and not final counts): 

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18,000 pounds of scrap metal, electronics and more were collected during the hazardous waste recycling event.

8,796 food items collected as of Sept. 12, as well as $110 for each local food pantry.

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5,116 books were donated to the book drive. There was a free tradeout option, so 1,831 books went to new owners. The remaining books were donated to the Reading Tree (3,066) and Silver Cross Hospital (219).

466 households participated in the hazardous waste collection, producing enough recyclables to fill two semi trailers.

147 new toys collected by Girl Scout Troop 70366, as well as 17 boxes of new McDonald's Happy Meal Toys.

50 volunteers helped clean the Will County Forest Preserve's Barrens Access at Route 30 and Schoolhouse Road.

25 units of blood were collected during a health fair, with more expected to come.

20 individual service projects were started, including some large paint jobs, with eight completed Saturday and more to be finished in the coming weeks.

18 organizations participated in the Health Fair to give away free screenings, tests and more.

12 garbage bags were filled with debris during a cleanup of Old Plank Trail.

9/11 was , serving as the culmination of ShareFest.

1 large semi truck was filled with clothing and household items that will be donated to Goodwill. That's in addition to 75 bags of clothing donated to area families in need.

Read more coverage of the 2011 ShareFest.


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