Flossmoor Trustee Joni Bradley-Scott helps fill care packages with treats for area first responders. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Feature, Local News

MLK Day: Plan4Success volunteers provide sweets for first responders, socks for unhoused

While steady rain fell outside, Plan4Success founder Nicole Brookens worked inside Flossmoor Village Hall to prep the system that would soon produce dozens of care packages for first responders and organize donations of socks for area shelters.

“It’s an assembly line,” she said. 

  • Flossmoor Trustee Joni Bradley-Scott helps fill care packages with treats for area first responders. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
    Flossmoor Trustee Joni Bradley-Scott helps fill care packages with treats for area first responders. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

The project was one of more than 20 that were part of Flossmoor’s 2023 MLK Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 16, each honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by offering ways to help others.

Brookens started the event by introducing the organization and its four volunteer leaders. Plan4Success, she said, is a mentoring organization that helps teens and college students with career development, college preparation and financial literacy.

Plan4Success team director Jordan Howard introduced the organization’s service component, noting that it participates annually in MLK Day of Service, Earth Day and Patriot’s Day activities. Howard is a Plan4Success alum who graduated college in 2021 and returned to help with the program.

“I love giving back to kids in my community,” she said. 

She was followed by Tommie Cunningham, a Romeoville High School student, who introduced the overarching theme of the project.

“It’s an honor and privilege to serve on a day like today,” he said. “Martin Luther King created a legacy through his own efforts to show us how to serve others. I encourage us all to do more to help someone throughout the year and not just today.”

Mackenzie Moon, a Neuqua Valley High School student, expanded on Tommie’s remarks, noting that King urged everyone to get involved in service. 

“You don’t have to be rich or have a special ability to serve,” she said. “As you can see from the people in this room, we have volunteers of all ages, demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds. You only need a desire to help others, a soul to spread love and an organization like Plan4Success to bring us all together in support of others.”

Braelyn Hall, who attends Marian Catholic High School, gave volunteers an overview of the assembly line procedure. Brookens said the snack boxes would be delivered to first responders throughout the South Suburbs and to some stations in Chicago. 

“We want to thank them for their service to our community and give them treats they can enjoy while they’re at work,” she said.

As volunteers assembled the snack boxes and filled them with treats, Plan4Success Education Director Katari Coleman worked at sorting socks. 

Brookens said the socks would be delivered to Pacific Gardens Homeless Shelter, Frieda’s House or South Suburban PADS.

“We try to choose different ones each time so we can kind of spread the wealth,” she said. “Socks are the least donated to shelters so we want to make sure have the things they need.”

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