Lake Forest shoppers pitched in Saturday to help Sandra Hart, Julie Morrison and Mary Ellen Vanderventer fill several large 55-gallon containers with a variety of household notions, lotions, shampoos, tissue, diapers, and toothpaste in a Catholic Charities benefit for Northern Illinois Center for Substance Abuse (NICASA) families coping with alcohol and substance abuse.

The three women, hosted by Sunset Foods in Lake Forest, had their collections delivered by Catholic Charities to needy NICASA families on Monday.

 “The event was very successful, and we may possibly plan another sometime soon,” said Morrison, who is currently West Deerfield Township Supervisor and a candidate for the State Senate in the 29^th District in the upcoming March 20 primary.

Hart, currently vice president of the Lake Bluff Park District’s Board and running for the Lake County Board in the upcoming election, said she was thrilled with the public’s support and their generosity.

Vanderventer, long-time Lake County recorder of deeds and running for re-election, opened the all-day benefit at 9 a.m. by displaying a sign and accepting donations.

Not only did she receive donations of toiletries, some of which were purchased on the spot at the store, “But I received a few cash donations from the shoppers as well,” Vanderventer said.