“Summer is the best time to chase the sunsets and live in the sunshine.” – Unknown

It is hard to believe that another summer has come and gone. For Mercy Housing residents across the country, summer was full of fun activities, celebrations, field trips, and more.

Celebrations, Cooking Classes, and a Little Rock-n-Roll

Mercy Housing Lakefront residents at Roseland Place and Roseland Village kicked off summer at their annual Juneteenth celebration. They were treated to a delicious meal sponsored and prepared by Arlether Paraherm, Founder of No Saints Left Behind. Participants also enjoyed listening to old-school jams playing in the background as they spent time catching up with one another and commemorating this important day.

Thanks to community partner the University of Illinois Extension, Marion Park youth mastered cooking skills like chopping, peeling, and mixing while creating fun and delicious meals. Their favorite recipes included snowman sandwiches, pumpkin pancakes, and homemade dips. Meanwhile, as part of the “Blankets for Seniors” program offered at the Carol Stream Library, kindergarten through fourth-grade students worked together to make hand-tied blankets to give to senior residents at Colony Park in Carol Stream, Illinois.

It was a rockin’ summer for more than 200 Batavia Apartments residents who enjoyed the Rock the Block event. With the help of community partners and organizations, residents were connected to healthcare and other services. The kids had a ball at the foam party, enthusiastically running in and out of the foam, which was the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day.

Constitution House resident Helen celebrated an incredible milestone—her 100th birthday! Family members traveled from Michigan, Missouri, Florida, Arizona, and California for her special day. The highlight? Constitution House Staff presented Helen with a custom jersey featuring her name and the number 100! Happy Birthday, Helen!

A Spirited Summer in the Southeast

Savannah Gardens’ strong sense of community was displayed as over 160 residents celebrated a new bi-monthly Farmers Market and Resource Days. Local officials and community police officers joined the fun at Forsyth Farmers Market, where residents were given a $10 voucher to spend on fresh produce and meat. “I loved playing football with the local police officers,” youth resident Mari said.

In addition, residents participated in cooking healthy recipes and enjoyed music from a local DJ.

Community partner Open Hand, a local Program Cooking Matters nutritional education provider, was also there, while Savannah High School culinary program members grilled savory vegetables and fish.

Youth resident Leyanni shared, “I enjoyed the cooking experience with the veggies, chicken, and rice.”

As this new collaborative launched at Savannah Gardens, over 40 youth residents from Terraces at Parkview and Thrive Sweet Auburn enjoyed a five-week STEM Summer Camp. This year’s camp explored robotics and food sciences while the kids showed off their creative minds with arts and crafts.

Additionally, the campers visited Urban Air Adventure Park and Starlite Skating Rink, expending their energy through various physical challenges.

Looking back on the summer, Mari reflected on his favorite memory: “My favorite memory was making new friends.”

Leyanni’s favorite memory from the summer of 2024 was “getting wet on the splash pad on our property with the other campers.”

Summer wasn’t just memorable for the campers and left a lasting impression on the staff. “We enjoy creating relationships and memories with our youth residents,” shared MHSE Resident Services Manager Odesha Felix-Everett. “Each child is unique and brings different personalities to our Mercy family.”

Biking, Space Travel, Aliens and Pizza Parties

Grace Apartments and The Rose on Colfax youth took exercise to a new level this summer by riding brand-new bikes, thanks to Wish for Wheels. They also joined with kids from Clare Gardens for a movie day, gathering at a nearby theater to watch the hit flick Inside Out 2.

Back at Grace Apartments, the celebration was on for World Refugee Day. 100% of the residents at this family affordable housing community are immigrants and spent the afternoon playing games, enjoying a catered lunch, and watching an exceptional performance from The Guiding Mountain Dragon and Lion Dance Association.

From learning about currency and space travel to spending a day exploring alien worlds and different works of art with visits to Meow Wolf and the Denver Art Museum, Decatur Apartment youth spent much of the summer tapping into their creative sides. They also learned the tricks and tools for thoughtfully communicating their emotions. The summer ended with a huge community-wide celebration, which included pizza, ice cream, and a Back-to-School backpack drive.

Ms. Fizzle Pays a Visit to Mercy Housing Northwest Communities

A surprise appearance from The Magic School Bus’s Ms. Frizzle at several Back-to-School events across Mercy Housing Northwest’s communities helped youth prepare to return to the classrooms with the tools they needed for a successful school year.

We wish them and all Mercy Housing’s shining stars a wonderful school year.