The NIU Honors Program has made arrangements to partner with Hy-Vee to hold a kick-off event for its “Birthday Boxes” service project.
Meant as an opportunity to increase awareness and involve the local community, the event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Hy-Vee store, 2700 DeKalb Ave. in Sycamore.
During this time, NIU Honors students will be stationed at the entrances of the store. Visitors to Hy-Vee will be able to pick up more information on ways to help, drop off items for donation, as well as see examples of the birthday boxes as the students create them.
The purpose of the “Birthday Boxes” project is to collect supplies that will be used to create “birthdays in a box” for children in need in DeKalb County and surrounding areas. These boxes will include cards, decorations, gifts and treats and will be distributed to local service agencies which work with children in need, such as homeless and domestic abuse shelters.
The idea is to ensure that children ages 1 through 18 are celebrated on their special day, even when their families are of limited means. Honors students will assemble, wrap and personalize each box and its contents as an ongoing, long-term service project.
Anyone interested in assisting with or attending the event, or learning more about other ways to help with the “Birthday Boxes” project, is encouraged to join the “NIU Birthday Boxes” group on Facebook. Honors Community Leader and NIU student Lauren Sikes, who is currently overseeing the project, also can answer questions.
Donations can be mailed or dropped off at the University Honors Program in Room 110 of the Campus Life Building at the northeast corner of Lucinda Avenue and Normal Road. Call (815) 753-0694 or email honors@niu.edu for more information.
