By AMY ROBERTSON

Operation Clearbrook Extension was a success not just because we raised money for the Clearbrook School for the Mentally Retarded, but because we showed we cared. From the Clearbrook drive $1,184.58 was raised for the Des Plaines Extension of Clearbrook to purchase gym and therapy equipment. Even more important, however, we raised an interest in Clearbrook and mental retardation within this school and the community.

Student Council became interested in Clearbrook in January. We have a service drive every year such as the G.I. Drive or Care Drives, but we didn't feel the students wanted the same thing this year. Through their representatives kids had expressed an interest in Indian Drives, hunger drives, and various other causes. But there was no one popular cause. Student Council wanted to have a drive that everyone would support because they cared.

Jill Whetham told Student Council about the Clearbrook Center in Rolling Meadows and asked Student Council to help support the Des Plaines Extension. This idea interested Student Council and further information concerning the purpose of Clearbrook was looked into.

Clearbrook is a combination school and workshop for mentally retarded children and young adults. Pre‑school retarded children learn basic fundamentals of living (sweeping a floor, tying a shoe) while young adults actually are in a scheduled workshop. In this type of situation they are able to earn money for themselves in an assembly line situation.

Clearbrook is a non‑profit organization run by volunteers; many of these volunteers often times are parents of the mentally retarded children attending the school. These people work with the children and help them adjust to their lives so that they can have the opportunity to live decent lives rather than being put into an institution.

In past years Student Council has had drives for people thousands of miles away, but never for people and children right in our own area who need help just as much. Clearbrook will be built near the Seven Eagles Restaurant in order to give retarded children in Des Plaines a chance.

Through a bake sale, taffy apple sale, candy sale, class competition money drive, and Donkey Basketball game, Maine West raised money to help buy the much needed equipment at the future Clearbrook center in Des Plaines. Support of the drive within the school was tremendous. We can say that we cared.