Though the holidays are meant to be filled with cheer and joy, for many families it can be a difficult time. To make a difference this season, the Planet Fitness^® in Bridgeview, Illinois, worked with the Bridgeview Chamber of Commerce to participate in their 32^nd annual Bridgeview Food & Toy Drive from Nov. 1-Dec. 3. The Bridgeview team collected over 100 toys for children in need, and they also collected over 150 non-perishable food items.

This would already have been a wonderful effort to give back to the community, but Dale Steffen, district manager for the Bridgeview club, wanted to think bigger. Steffen asked other PLNTF Holdings locations in the area to join in and participate in the drive, and in the end, the Avenue O, Back of Yards, Chatham, Crestwood, Hickory Hills and Pullman Park locations helped out by donating to the drive. This meant another 80 toys and an additional 100-plus non-perishable food items from team members were added to the already impressive collection of donations.

Several team members then volunteered at the Bridgeview Chamber of Commerce to help sort the items that had been collected for the drive. The Bridgeview Chamber of Commerce ended up with over 50 banquet tables loaded with toys and food!

Planet Fitness clubs love being part of their communities, and that means taking the opportunity to give back by participating in donation drives like this one.