Thank you to the Oak Park and River Forest communities for your support of last month’s 25th annual 9-11 LemonAid charity fundraising event on the 700 block of Bonnie Brae in River Forest. Thousands of neighbors, two dozen local charities serving kids, sponsors, and more than a hundred volunteers came together in the spirit of service. Together, we raised more than $47,000 to support kids in our community.
I would also like to thank my neighbors who founded the event 25 years ago and served as the backbone of this incredible grassroots effort for more than two decades, including the Birminghams, Coes, Dressels, Heneks, Hauris, Flannerys, McNichols/Westers, Olsons, Stearns, Strands, and Sturgeons. What started as a LemonAid stand in 2001 has raised more than $750,000 for local charities.
With the funds, the charities have done important things in our community. For example, the OP-RF Infant Welfare Society provided health care to kids in need, Wonderworks gave more kids access to a safe place to play, the Collaboration for Early Childhood helped connect parents to resources for their babies and toddlers, and there are many more amazing stories of impact.
For many of us kids on the block, our first exposure to 9-11 was watching our neighbors volunteering their time to organize LemonAid, and we grew up knowing one day we would do the same. In that way, these committed volunteers served as a model for the type of work we need in this world, helping all of us internalize the value of service.
A small group of volunteers are working in collaboration with River Forest Township and the Kiwanis Club of River Forest-Oak Park to plan LemonAid 2027, which will be a smaller event that continues our tradition of honoring the lives lost and supporting local charities. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact us at www.9-11lemonaid.com.
Connor Chien
Youth co-chair for LemonAid,
OPRF High School senior
River Forest