From left, Alba Thomas-Radovic, Charlie Guziejka and Elloren Thomas attempt to capture some attention for their cookies, juice and lemonade stand in front of Thomas Photographic Studio on Dixie Highway. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Local News

Spotlight Academy volunteers raise money for hurricane victims Saturday and Sunday

Members of the Spotlight Performance Academy’s Bel Canto choirs ran four stands on Saturday, Oct. 12, selling goodies to raise funds to help victims of hurricanes that hit the South in recent weeks.

Proceeds of the sale will go to World Central Kitchen. The organization has relief teams in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee following two major hurricanes in succession, Helene and Milton.

From left, Eleanor Greep, Molly Tracy, Annie Lawrence and Kylie Dixon serve Shawn Sorsby and his son, Taj, from their lemonade stand at Apollo Park on Saturday, Oct. 12. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
From left, Eleanor Greep, Molly Tracy, Annie Lawrence and Kylie Dixon serve Shawn Sorsby and his son, Taj, from their lemonade stand at Apollo Park on Saturday, Oct. 12. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
From left, Alba Thomas-Radovic, Charlie Guziejka and Elloren Thomas attempt to capture some attention for their cookies, juice and lemonade stand in front of Thomas Photographic Studio on Dixie Highway. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
From left, Alba Thomas-Radovic, Charlie Guziejka and Elloren Thomas attempt to capture some attention for their cookies, juice and lemonade stand in front of Thomas Photographic Studio on Dixie Highway. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

At the stand in front of her parents’ business, Thomas Photographic Studio, Elloren Thomas said the purpose of the fundraiser was to “help people who lost their food.” She and two choir friends, Charlie Guziejka and Alba Thomas-Radovic, were selling cookies, lemonade and fruit juice.

“We want to save their lives. They don’t have anything from their houses,” Charlie said.

Advertisement
From left, Max and Poppy Herrman offer apple cider snickerdoodle cookies and pumpkin muffins to patrons as part of the Spotlight Academy's hurricane relief fundraiser. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
From left, Max and Poppy Herrman offer apple cider snickerdoodle cookies and pumpkin muffins to patrons as part of the Spotlight Academy’s hurricane relief fundraiser. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Sonny Bonanotte, left, and Braden Douglas tend the stand on Western Avenue in Homewood, part of the Spotlight Performance Academy's fundraiser for hurricane victims while Sandra Vaccaro looks on. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Sonny Bonanotte, left, and Braden Douglas tend the stand on Western Avenue in Homewood, part of the Spotlight Performance Academy’s fundraiser for hurricane victims while Sandra Vaccaro looks on. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

In addition to the stand at Thomas Photographic, there were stands at Spotlight Director Carrie Bonanotte’s home on Western Avenue in Homewood, where Sandra Vaccaro was helping Braden Douglas and Sonny Bonanotte with sales; at the Herrman home in Chicago Heights, where Katharine, Max and Poppy Herrman were selling cookies, pumpkin muffins and lemonade; and at Apollo Park, where Amanda Jo Greep and Yvonne Oldaker helped Annie Lawrence, Eleanor Greep, Molly Tracy and Kylie Dixon with sales of brownies and lemonade.

Stands will be open again Sunday, Oct. 13, to continue the fundraiser.

The schedule includes:

  • 18514 Page Ave. in Homewood from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with baked goods and lemonade.
  • 1756 Burr Oak Road in Homewood from noon to 3 p.m. with “blood punch” served by “skeletons.”
  • 1459 187th St. in Homewood from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with lemonade, cider and baked goods.
  • 18148 Gottschalk Ave. in Homewood from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with lemonade and cider.
  • 17818 Highland Ave. in Homewood from 1 to 4 p.m. with cider and lemonade. 
  • 3446 Vollmer Road (Bizio’s Fresh Market) from noon to 2 p.m. with brownies, cookies and lemonade. 

Anyone who can’t contribute by patronizing the stands can donate directly at donorbox.org/help-for-hurricane-victims.

First decade feedback

News by email

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

Free weekly newsletter

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name
Most read stories this week

Community Calendar