The Eagle Relief project at Carl Sandburg High School has been very busy this season, accepting thousands of donations from students and helping several dozen students in need.

Eagle Relief is a grant funded by the District 230 Foundation that assembles and distributes care packages and other much-needed items for students in need at Sandburg High School. 

Eagle Relief co-creator Janine Wilkins said, “This program has fueled a movement of kindness. It has already impacted the lives of so many students. Just being able to give a bag of toiletries and detergent to our student provided comfort for her so she did not have to wait, wear dirty clothes, and possibly have items they could not afford for her and her family.”

In the past four months, the project has provided more than 40 relief bags to students and families. In addition, Eagle Relief was able to provide presents for seven students.

With this grant, students in need receive everyday necessities they may be unable to secure at home. The grant provided funds to purchase bags, t-shirts, feminine product kits, and laundry detergent sheets. Recently they purchased quality ethnic hair products, as well as hijabs.  Sweatsuits, food gift cards, and athletic gym shoes were also among the recent items purchased for students.

Physical Education teacher Janine Wilkins and Director of Guidance Krystin Koss have worked hard to find space for a mock store and Ultima and Special Education students have begun in-school job training to manage the store, helping with inventory, stocking shelves, and creating bags for students in need.

The spark for the Eagle Relief project began a few years ago as a service project with female PE Junior Leaders, who donated hygiene projects and created packages that were delivered to deans, nurses, counseling, and Special Service offices. 

The Eagle Relief project goes well beyond providing a few necessities. It builds confidence for students receiving these items, helps take away stress and anxiety for students worrying if and when their family will be able to purchase these items and builds empathy and compassion for the students donating and creating these bags.

Second semester and beyond, the plan is to continue to stock supplies and hopefully create some surprise birthday opportunities for the students in our community.  We look forward to expanding by focusing on school supplies as well.