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Northbrook residents, businesses raise money for Sandy Hook families
Lindsey Heller of Northbrook talks with visitors during her fundraiser for the families of Sandy Hook Elementary outside La De Da on Dec. 21. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: December 26, 2012 12:10PM
Northbrook residents and business people have come together to support grieving families at Sandy Hook.
They will be manning a stand today (Friday, Dec. 21) in front La De Da, a gift shop at 1957 Cherry Lane, auctioning off giftbaskets and accepting donations in an effort to offer support.
“When we stopped at Josh’s Hot Dogs to ask Josh Kaplan, the owner, if he would like to participate, he actually offered to come out and grill 200 hot dogs from noon to 1 p.m. Friday to help,” Keller said.
Twenty-six people – 20 students and six adults – on Dec. 14 were shot and killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., by a gunman.
Lindsey Heller, 20, and one of her best friends, Lauren Dzakovich, 19, both of whom grew up in Northbrook, have been heading the effort to show the parents who lost their children, and the families of teachers who died, that they care.
Both Heller and Dzakovich are students at Indiana University who are working toward teaching degrees.
Because of this, they have a feeling of kinship with Sandy Hook families who are suffering, Heller said.
“The reason I feel so many people were affected by this tragedy is because these were innocent children and their lives were cut short,” Heller said. “I student-taught in a kindergarten classroom in Bloomington, Ind., and when I heard this, I saw all my little kids’ faces, and all of their innocence, silliness and kindness.”
So the two having been raising funds to pay for support services for the families left to handle the aftermath of the tragedy.
Dzakovich said they started visiting Northbrook businesses a few days after the massacre asking for donations for a silent auction to benefit the Sandy Hook families.
“Everyone was so supportive. They couldn’t help but think of their own children and think of them in a different light. They knew this could have happened anywhere,” she added.
The business owners donated everything from food to clothing for the auction, and the owner of La De Da, allowed the women to set up two tables in front of the store to solicit contributions.
Shoppers also could stop to write notes of condolence and/or donate $3 for a ribbon to wear signifying their support.
Other businesses participating are: Northbrook Dahn Yoga Center, Once Upon a Grill, Unique Accents, Elegance in Meats, Go Roma, Starbucks in Downtown Northbrook, the Complete Dog, Northbrook Racquet Club, Landmark Inn Bar and Grill, Hip Hip Hooray and Buffalo Wild Wings.
Also: the Carolyn Lorraine Salon, Caribou Coffee, Francesca’s North, Marcello’s Restaurant, Visage De Beaute, Alice B, Sam Martirano Salon and Spa, Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Massage Envy at the Shops of Willow Festival, as well as Loves Yogurt in Glenview.
Anyone who would like to donate to the cause but who misses this effort may send contributions to Sandy Hook School Support Fund, c/o Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main St., Newtown, Conn., 06470.
Those wishing to send care packages, children’s drawings, and letters of sympathy may send them to Messages of Condolence for New Newtown, P.O. Box 3700, Newtown, CT 06470.
