Lauren Pencyla and Luca Mattiuz beamed with pride as they organized the toys, mittens and other items that had been collected on and around a tree inside the main entrance at Brook Forest School.

It also offers lasting gifts such as tribute benches and trees placed in forest preserves. The office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (630) 933-7248.

When the Hudson Montessori School held its 13th annual Social Studies Fair earlier this year, a seed was planted. Now, it’s starting to take root as a grove of 250 saplings that will planted as ...