At SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, we complement our unique model of foster care with health and wellness initiatives. Harvest Day is a tradition at our Village due to the summer-long gardening project.
On Saturday, October 6, from 10AM to 1PM located at our Chicago Village, Harvest Day will highlight our gardening programs, and include informative and engaging programming around our health & wellness initiatives for our children and families. Harvest Day is an annual celebration of these successful programs and our friends who make it possible. Foster Parents and the children in our care gather with staff, volunteers, and sponsors in our community garden to enjoy family-fun activities and a shared meal.
This year, Harvest Day will honor the Illinois Bicentennial. In collaboration with the Cook County Farm Bureau and our partners at Swissôtel Chicago, Harvest Day will highlight Illinois’ agriculture and history through active, educational activities for the children and families in our care. Our activity stations will incorporate themes of Illinois’ history, natural landscape, and State symbols. This celebration highlights how SOS Children’s Villages Illinois is important to Illinois: its history, its people, and its communities. We are #IlinoisProud to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Bicentennial Celebration
On Dec. 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st state in the union. The Illinois Bicentennial is a yearlong celebration of what has been BORN, BUILT & GROWN in the state and a reminder of why we are #IllinoisProud. This year, a statewide multimedia campaign will celebrate the bicentennial and showcase Illinois’ influence on the world through music, sports, agriculture, literature, commerce, history, technology and innovation, transportation, and art and architecture.
Our Amazing Partners – Swissôtel Chicago
Swissôtel Chicago does so much to help our children and families experience opportunities for growth and enrichment, from career days to summer camp to joyful holidays to culinary workshops and learning about health and wellness. Thanks to the Swissôtel Chicago, our children continue to have so many opportunities for growth, particularly when it came to learning about the gardens in our Villages. Last year at our annual Harvest Festival, Swissôtel taught our children about grow towers, composting, and the connection between the garden and healthy living and eating. Additionally, through the fundraising efforts of every staff member at Swissôtel Chicago, they were able to help support the construction of a therapeutic garden at the Chicago Village.
This year, Swissôtel Chicago is looking forward to participating once again by bringing a petting zoo, having a face painting station, and crafts. We thank our friends at Swissôtel Chicago for sharing their enthusiasm and passion for creating new learning and enrichment opportunities for our youth, and helping us grow.