Even though six months have passed since the earthquake in Haiti, people at Trinity Lutheran Church and School have not forgotten the tragedy.
The church and school, at Roosevelt and Westmore-Meyers roads in Lombard, served during the month of June as a drop-off center for food and supplies for victims.
“So many people came forward to bring so many different things,” said Marilyn Steben, coordinator of the fundraiser and a church member. “I was just in awe.”
She said thousands of items were collected from many members of the church and community.
“It was really just amazing,” Steben said.
Trinity Lutheran church members and school families filled a large truck with boxes packed with summer clothing, basic medical supplies, toiletries, tools and other essentials July 1.
Lori Solyom, a member of the church, said about two dozen people of all ages helped pack items and load the truck.
“The folks at Trinity Lutheran Church were overwhelmed by the generosity of the neighborhood,” Solyom said.
The items will be distributed along with other Chicago-area donations by relief teams with Lutheran Church Charities, she said.
“Trinity regularly participates in service and outreach in the neighborhood and around the world,” Solyom said.
According to Solyom, Trinity sent school supplies to Liberia, care packages to active duty military members, baby blankets and infant items to new mothers in need, gift baskets to hospitalized veterans, Thanksgiving dinner boxes to families in need, canned goods to several food pantries and Christmas gift bags to nursing home veterans, all in the last year.
“We occasionally have door offerings to collect cash for immediate needs, as we did in the weeks that directly followed the Haitian earthquakes,” Solyom said.
