Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
Before donating 1,085 cereal boxes to a local food pantry, Ridge Lawn students thought it would be fun to play "cereal dominos." CHICAGO RIDGE, IL — If you want to know how long it takes for 1,085 cereal boxes to fall in a domino effect, ask the Ridge Lawn School student council in Chicago Ridge. Students have been collecting boxes of cereal since Oct. 1, and arranged all 1,085 boxes in a chain last week (with safety breaks in case someone accidentally kicked it over) that wrapped around the school hallways before ending at the winner’s circle in the gym. The project took on an even greater urgency after SNAP benefits were put on hold. Ridge Lawn student council advisors and faculty members, Danielle Fox and Theresa Kehoe, came up with the idea over the summer. “We did ‘Sock-tober’ a few years ago,” Fox told Patch, who teaches third grade. “We decided food would be a little different. We wanted to make sure we were rewarding our students who were putting in the work.” The 15 student council members calculated and organized a “foodraiser” for the Worth Township Center food pantry. For the 31 days of October, they hit up their friends, family and neighbors for cereal donations. Richards High School also sent over a sizable donation of cereal. The goal was to collect 1,000 boxes, but the plucky student council members were on a quest, exceeding their goal by 85 boxes. Story continues after video Video courtesy of Ridge Lawn School | Dist. 127.5 “Even something as simple as a small box of cereal can impact so many,” said Kehoe, the media skills librarian. “We just want to teach them about community togetherness and empathy toward others.” As a Title I school, Ridge Lawn and other Dist. 127.5 schools qualify for federal funding that is provided to schools and districts that serve high numbers of low-income households. “We’re such a small community, so it was a very big feat that the children were able to accomplish,” Fox said. “There is a lot of food instability in the community, and with that instability they can find comfort in their local food bank. We’re a Title 1 school. We could be helping our own families. Children can’t learn if they’re hungry.” On Nov. 5, the student council began lining up cereal boxes in the hallways of the 14,000-square-foot school, which is shaped like a square. The lower grades began filing into the hallways for the big event. Eddie the Eagle, the school mascot, who by the way is also a big star, flapped around the gym. Little Eddie started the chain reaction by driving into the boxes. Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for came. “Little Eddie,” a stuffed eagle, sat behind the wheel of a snazzy remote-controlled sports car. The switch was flicked, and Little Eddie started the chain reaction by driving into the first box. One by one, the boxes began to fold into each other – Corn Flakes, Fruity Pebbles, Coco Puffs, Cherrios, Sugar Pops, Raisin Brand, Quaker Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Captain Crunch, Trix, Apple Jacks, Reese’s Puffs, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, Honey Bunches of Oats — as well as the healthy fiber stuff. Students lining the halls chanted – cereal, cereal, cereal – while a sweaty WGN camera operator, Brad Piper, and assistant principal, Leighanne Kaczmarek, chased the falling cereal boxes through the corridors and past all the lockers. There was also a near accident when a drone hit the assistant principal in the head. Ridge Lawn students gather for the big event. (Lorraine Swanson | Patch) Finally, the last box fell in the winner’s circle, where Big Eddie handed out “high-fives.” No one was prouder than the student council members. “It felt great that we accomplished our goal,” said Abraham Mohammed, 10. “I felt proud because we’re going to donate all the cereal to people in need and have fun,” 10-year-old Banah Alnassan added. As for Fox and Kehoe, they were just relieved that it worked. “We got it on the first take,” Kehoe said. Fox said Ridge Lawn students have had a tough few years. Many have lost family members in Gaza. She hoped the cereal dominos would give them a memory of being part of a force for good and hope in the world. “Seeing how happy the students were was my most favorite part,” Fox said. ”They were focused and hardworking, and they really showed me what they can do.”
