Maple School's Annual Toy Drive Reaches New Heights In Northbrook

NORTHBROOK, IL — It's the giving season and for nearly 30 years in Northbrook, Maple School has held an annual toy drive to help the less fortunate in the area. The school's Learning Stairs reached new heights on Dec. 11, as thousands of collected toys, games, blankets, gift cards, and jewelry kits were displayed from bottom to top.

The toys were collected for distribution by Youth Services, a place local children, adolescents and families in the North Shore can turn to for mental health services. Representatives from the Northfield Township organization made their way to Maple to pack their cars with the gifts and will distribute them to over 900 less fortunate families in the area in time for the holidays.

"Way to go Maple Mustangs," Maple School Principal Sam Kurtz said in a message to students. "Thank you for helping Northfield Township families this holiday season. Your generosity is overwhelming."

Maple School's Annual Toy Drive Ends Thursday

Lynn Reimer and Iris Zhang, who served as student council co-sponsors, did not let this challenging year keep them from spearheading the annual school tradition. Even though they could not hold fall fundraisers to raise money for toys as they have in the past, they managed to collect many items from generous families of fifth through eighth-graders.

In addition to collecting toys, a friend of Reimer donated several boxes of Paparazzi jewelry, and her sisters contributed their handmade blankets and hats.

To encourage students, staff, and families to purchase toys and gift cards, a Student Council Raffle was held, and there will be raffle prizes for each grade. Student Council sponsors placed students' names in the raffle five times for every dollar spent on a toy or gift card. Raffle winners will be drawn on Thursday.

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The Youth Services agency, located at 3080 W Lake Ave. in Glenview, was founded in 1972 in Glenview and in 1974 in Northbrook as the community’s response to the needs of children. Because both agencies shared the same mission, they merged in 1992. Since that time, Youth Services has grown to offer programs focused on early intervention, intervention, and crisis response.

To learn more about Youth Services, call 847-724-2620 or visit https://www.ysgn.org/.