'It's not about us' Tinley students assemble 'caregiver kits' for those with AIDS and HIV

[Debbie Durham]

'It's not about us' Tinley students assemble 'caregiver kits' for those with AIDS and HIV

March 26, 2009
BY JASON FREEMAN Staff Writer

The Sperling Brothers Foundation and 20 eighth-grade students from Southwest Chicago Christian School in Tinley Park partnered Saturday at the school to assemble 375 caregiver kits for volunteers in Africa, Asia and Latin America who are helping families living with HIV and AIDS.

The kits, which the students put together in an assembly line set up in the school's gym, included needed items such as antibacterial soap, petroleum jelly, cotton balls, antifungal cream, disposable latex gloves, notebooks and pens, washcloths, flashlights and batteries, antidiarrheal medicine and acetaminophen.

"It's pretty awesome (to help) people in Africa who don't have many things to help them get better," said student Corey Bulthuis, 13, of Crestwood. "I'm praying for them, and I'm trying to work hard today so they can have all the stuff that they need."

Sperling Foundation cofounder and board member Jill Sperling said she talked with the students before the activity began in order to give them perspective.

"We talked about why we're doing this and who it's for," she said. "I had the privilege of going to Africa about a year and a half ago, so from seeing it myself, I was able to explain to (the students) why a flashlight is necessary or why the little bars of soap we get for free at hotels are priceless to (the African people)."

The kits, which cost $26.50 each and were bought through donations from local residents, were picked up from the school Monday and trucked to a World Vision International supply store on the East coast, where they'll be shipped to the countries that need them.

"I hope (what) the kids get out of this (is) to see there's a bigger world out there than just their neighborhood or just their city or just their state or just their country," Sperling said. "I'm also hoping they get a sense of the joy they can find in helping other people who are less fortunate."

Student Shelly Heemstra, 14, of Orland Park, said the work was very rewarding.

"I think it's really great," she said. "It's fun because I get to help other people in different countries just by doing something little like this."

"I've always liked helping people, and this is an easy way to do that," she said.

Trevor Stephens, 13, of Tinley Park, agreed. "It's good that we can do this for other people in Africa who don't (have access) to this stuff," he said.

Sperling, who helped create the Sperling Brothers Foundation in honor of her husband, Bruce, and his brother, Mark, who died trying to rescue a kayaker on the Fox River in 2006, said the caregiver kit project reflects what the organization is all about.

"Our motto is, 'It's not about us,' " she said. "In a world where we're focused on the economy and politics and paying our next bill, there's many, many people out there who are in much graver situations than we are."

For more information about the Sperling Brothers Foundation, visit www.sperlingfoundation.com. For more information about the caregiver kits program, visit www.worldvision.org/carekits.

Jason Freeman can be reached at [e-mail] [phone].

(http://www.southtownstar.com/neighborhoodstar/tinleypark/1493462,032609TPkits.article)