Environmental

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser For Thorn Creek Nature Center Raises Over $2,400


Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)—September 9, 2013. A Spaghetti Dinner was hosted by the American Legion Post 1198 Fundraiser on Saturday, July 27 to benefit Thorn Creek Nature Center.   The Benefit Dinner was a rousing success with one hundred eighty seven dinners served and over $2400 raised by dinner donations and many outright donations.  The support, contributions and hard work are very much appreciated by the Friends of Thorn Creek Woods and the Commission that oversees the preserve.

Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve has two projects in the works where this money can make a real difference: repairing and painting the nature center, and building a bridge.  In the last few years this civil war era building has gotten a new roof, steeple repairs, new front doors and its windows repaired.  Next are repairs to some beams and the steeple and painting the exterior.

The other project in the planning stage, is to build a new south hiking bridge over Thorn Creek, replacing the 1970’s one that was finally ruined by the spring storms.

The benefit host, the American Legion Post 1198, provided the facility, tables, set up, clean up, kitchen cooks & workers, and food items.  Frank Elton of Bambino’s Restaurant in Steger donated six gallons of sauce and twenty pounds of spaghetti.  Along with food donations from Chicago Dough Company and Marconi’s, and baked goods from the Garden Club members, the spaghetti dinner was a success.

Many people helped to plan the event.  The benefit cosponsors sold tickets and publicized the event.  The Garden Club of Park Forest, Park Forest Environment Commission, Rotary Club of Park Forest, Friends of Thorn Creek Woods, Park Forest Historical Society and Kiwanis Club of Park Forest and Tom Mick, Park Forest Village Manager cosponsored the dinner event. The Garden Club coordinated the ticket sales and provided volunteers for the ticket table.  Dinner servers were volunteers from Garden Club and the Environment Commission. Barbara Tieder made the tickets.  The Nature Center and Village provided flyers and press releases.

The American Legion Post 1198 is committed to helping our nation’s service people and their families, and to local community service whenever and wherever they can.  Their programs help provide for the needs of veterans and active duty troops, and they also focus on assisting the children and families of service people. 

The Garden Club of Park Forest was founded in 1954, and is instrumental in the advancement of gardening, conservation and promotion of civic beautification, and related philanthropies.  Their annual event, the Falling Leaves Festival will be held Tuesday, October 8 at St. Mary’s School, 227 Monee Road in Park Forest.  Tickets are $8 at the door.  Enjoy door prizes, finger sandwiches and desserts, raffles, bake sale, white elephant sale, plus a program “What’s Old is New Again” by Nina Koziol.

The Park Forest Environment Commission assists the Village in presenting information and education to the public on matters relating to the environment of the Village. 

Park Forest Rotary Club is dedicated to community service, world peace, and international understanding.  They work through local school involvement, contributions to worthwhile charities, and community projects, such as the 3rd Grade Dictionary project, Pointsetta Plant Sale, “Do It Yourself Messiah”, and more.  They meet every Thursday from 12:15 until 1:30 at the University Park Golf Club & Conference Center.

Kiwanis Club of Park Forest was founded in 1951 with a commitment to community service for children, young people, the aging, and the needy in local and international settings. The club sponsors numerous service projects through local organizations such as schools, Key Clubs, Park Forest Police and Fire Departments, Nurses Plus, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Children Memorial Hospital, Rich Township Food Pantry, and PADS.

The mission of the Park Forest Historical Society is to preserve, interpret and celebrate the unique history, diversity and achievements of the Village of Park Forest, Illinois through exhibits, publications and special programs.

Thorn Creek Nature Center stands at the gateway of a 3-1/2 mile nature adventure through 985 acres  of oak hickory woodland dominated by one hundred and fifty year old white and red oak trees.   Opening in 1976 in the picturesque 1860’s church building, the nature center houses displays of the preserve’s flora & fauna, bird feeder viewing area, maps & scale models of the preserve, Eugene E. Schwartz reference library and a children’s science corner.  Year round nature programs and events for all ages are offered by guest naturalists and volunteers.

Year after year this nature preserve – fifth in the state – serves thousands of children & adults.  The Preserve is also the centerpiece of a growing network of public open spaces along Thorn Creek that contribute to the quality of life in the south metropolitan region.   In providing these valuable services, the nature center operates on a very tight budget. 

So donations like this Spaghetti Dinner Benefit make possible many improvements to Thorn Creek Nature Center and the trails.

For more information, or make a contribution to the Capital Fund of Friends of Thorn Creek Woods, call or e-mail Thorn Creek Nature Center at 708-747-6320 or [email protected]. Or stop by the Nature Center, 247 Monee Road, Park Forest on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.  

 

 


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