The Real Park Ridge

Top Menu

  • Home
  • Around Town
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact Us

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Around Town
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Scene
    • Kid Zone
    • Park Ridge Insider
    • Recommendations
  • Eat. Drink. Shop
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • General Features
  • Interviews
  • Magazine
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • Around Town
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact Us

logo

Header Banner

The Real Park Ridge

  • Home
  • Around Town
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Scene
    • Kid Zone
    • Park Ridge Insider
    • Recommendations
  • Eat. Drink. Shop
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • General Features
  • Interviews
  • Magazine
  • Park Ridge Insider Aykut Imren on favorite dishes at Pazzi di Pizza, Beacon Tap and Boston Fish Market, shopping at Jerry’s Fruit & Garden, and escaping to Lake Geneva and Evanston Beach

  • Inside Scoop: Park Ridge Wine Walk May 1, headshots, cocktails and networking event May 10, Edie Boutique spring fashion show May 12, and Mother’s Day brunches

  • Park Ridge Insider Katie Podgorny on a fondness for Nonna Silvia’s, Sandlot burgers between Warriors baseball games, and anticipating the Park Ridge Farmers Market

  • Good Eats at Daniel’s Charcuterie: Beautiful charcuterie boards, creative sandwiches, sommelier-selected wines and more at this cozy Uptown bistro

  • Plan to make a splash this summer with the Park Ridge Park District — pool passes on sale April 1

Around Town
Home›Around Town›Making a difference: Meet Ella Powers, a creative eight-year-old raising thousands of dollars for a local food pantry

Making a difference: Meet Ella Powers, a creative eight-year-old raising thousands of dollars for a local food pantry

By Trent Modglin
May 9, 2020
2182
2
Share:

By Trent Modglin

Pretty sure we all could use some good news right about now. With all the uncertainty and stress we’ve experienced the past two months, I thought it would be a good time to share some local feel-good stories. Call it a morale boost, if you will.

If you know of someone, or a particular business, that is going out of their way to help others during the pandemic — or just an uplifting local story — please shoot an email to Info@TheRealParkRidge.com and fill me in. Big or small, doesn’t matter.

Here is the first installment in a series of blogs that rallies around all the positive, inspirational things that are happening and the good people everywhere.

Eight-year-old Ella Powers creatively assisting local food pantry

Ella Powers may only be eight years old, but she’s proving that kids can be just as inspired as adults when it comes to helping others in these uneasy times.

This compassionate second-grader at Carpenter Elementary has been busy assembling and selling family movie-night care packages to keep you safe (and sane) at home. They include an Amazon gift card for movie rental, popcorn and other snacks. All net proceeds (which amounts to $12 per box) are donated to the Maine Township Food Pantry.

She got at the idea while watching an episode of Marvel’s Hero Project that showcased kids her own age making a difference in their community. After a little brainstorming with Mom, and upon hearing that the local food pantry was in need of support, they arrived at the movie-night kit plan, which has spread to teammates on her basketball team.

“I am in awe and inspired by her sense of possibility and optimistic outlook on the world around her.”

As of May 7, she had raised more than $2,300 for those who need it most during the pandemic. Quite a feat in itself, but there was also an opportunity to learn how to run a business — budgeting out what items to include in the kit, using spreadsheets to keep track of orders, and even a bit of customer service when it comes to answering emails.

Did I mention she was eight?

“Working on this project with her has done more for me than I could ever imagine,” her mom, Candice, admits. “I am in awe and inspired by her sense of possibility and optimistic outlook on the world around her.”

Ella’s family is offering local deliveries of the movie-night packages, as well as porch pick-ups. If you are interested in ordering, email ellacares8@gmail.com, and payments can be made via Venmo to @EllaCares8 or via Zelle to ellacares8@gmail.com

“I am so proud and inspired by this kid,” says Candice. “She constantly reminds me if you put aside your doubts and worries, you can do great things.”

Couldn’t agree more. You’re never too small to make a big difference. Way to go, Ella!

————————–

Stay safe, everyone. Keep looking out for one another, and shoot us a line with any stories you may have of good people doing good things. #therealparkridge

TagsCoronavirusGive in KindpandemicPennyville StationThe Real Park Ridge
Previous Article

Time to unwind: Looking for a little ...

Next Article

Making a difference: Local singer Colette Hawley ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0

Trent Modglin

Related articles More from author

  • Good Eats

    Good Eats at Lirica: Navy Pier spices things up with a new Latin American-inspired restaurant with incredible views

    May 7, 2021
    By Trent Modglin
  • General Features

    The pampered life: Surviving my first “gentleman’s facial” at Beautifully New Med Spa — and possibly getting hooked

    April 22, 2021
    By Trent Modglin
  • General Features

    Spotlight on Klairmont Kollections: One of the best car museums the world has to offer is right here in Chicago

    November 14, 2020
    By Trent Modglin
  • Chicago Scene

    Chicago Scene: The Art Institute’s Monet exhibit, skating at Maggie Daley Park, Art on the MART and rooftop curling at ...

    November 25, 2020
    By Trent Modglin
  • Shop Around the Corner

    Shop Around the Corner: Beautiful home décor, friendly service and a creative flower bar at Marigold Gift Shop in Park ...

    March 8, 2021
    By Trent Modglin
  • Around Town

    Inside Scoop: Museum of Science and Industry’s LEGO exhibit and free days, MLK Day art camp at Bottle & Bottega, ...

    January 14, 2022
    By Trent Modglin

2 comments

  1. Making a difference: Local singer Colette Hawley performs sidewalk concerts for local retirement homes - The Real Park Ridge 12 May, 2020 at 15:44 Reply

    […] Making a difference: Meet Ella Powers, a creative eight-year-old raising thousands of dollars for a … […]

  2. Making a difference: Park Ridge police, Pennyville Station, Give In Kind and deputy clerk among those putting others first - The Real Park Ridge 20 May, 2020 at 17:41 Reply

    […] Making a difference: Meet Ella Powers, a creative eight-year-old raising thousands of dollars for a … […]

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You might be interested

  • General Features

    Small business spotlight: For two decades, the family-owned Home Comfort Services, Inc. has been taking care of all your HVAC needs

  • Around Town

    Inside Scoop: Park Ridge Wine Walk May 1, headshots, cocktails and networking event May 10, Edie Boutique spring fashion show May 12, and Mother’s Day brunches

  • General Features

    Get your coffee fix: Cozy spots to catch up on work or meet a friend for coffee, tea or a treat

Let’s Connect

  • 366
    Followers
  • 1.6K
    Likes
  • 1,656
    Followers

E-mail newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required
/ ( mm / dd )
Park Ridge e-mail list
logo

The Real Chicago — an eye-catching, family friendly entertainment magazine for active locals and tourists — originally launched in 2006. It now has a sister publication: The Real Park Ridge. Proud to be servicing our new home in Park Ridge, as well as the surrounding areas of Rosemont, Niles, Des Plaines, Mt. Prospect and NW Chicago.

The Real Park Ridge is printed and distributed seasonally four times per year (December, March, June and September) to thousands of Park Ridge homes, as well as more than 150 area restaurants, bars, boutiques, coffee shops, salons, spas, offices and hotels. Make sure to sign up for our e-mail newsletter and download our new digital app for the latest events, deals and feature articles.

About us

info@therealparkridge.com
  • Latest Posts

  • Local charity spotlight: Diveheart.org uses scuba therapy to provide those with disabilities a chance to ...

    By Trent Modglin
    May 17, 2022
  • Park Ridge Insider Aykut Imren on favorite dishes at Pazzi di Pizza, Beacon Tap and ...

    By Trent Modglin
    May 16, 2022
  • Chicago Scene: The classic restaurant experience includes Gibsons, Gene & Georgetti, The Berghoff and Twin ...

    By Trent Modglin
    May 10, 2022
  • Chicago Scene: Five Iron Golf opens two more locations and the Jurassic Oceans exhibit at ...

    By Trent Modglin
    May 3, 2022

https://www.instagram.com/therealparkridge/

Follow us

© Copyright The Real Park Ridge. All rights reserved.
Cleantalk Pixel