826CHI wants you to say “YES!” to BORING

When I first moved to the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, I decided to check out the area. While strolling down Milwaukee Avenue, I noticed a store called the Boring Store. With a bright orange awning, and an illustration of a private detective with a shopping cart—I was intrigued. I walked into the Boring Store, not having any idea what I would find. Would it really be boring, like the name boasted, or the exact opposite of the word?

Upon entering, I was immediately caught up in all the novelty items for sale, like mustache disguises, Pepsi cans that double as a safe, cameras that squirt water, pencils that are actually pens, and every other gadget an aspiring spy would need to successfully go undercover. After being told that The Boring Store sells things that are “not what they seem,” the confused look on my face promptly caused the volunteer working the cash register to laugh and take pity on me and tell me what the Boring Store really is.

Yes, it’s a spy supply store—but it’s also a “cover” for a writing and tutoring center for kids ages 6-18. Take a photo tour of the Boring Store here.

826CHI, part of 826 National—an organization started by author Dave Eggers—is a place where kids are given the resources, one-on-one tutoring, and encouragement to learn creative and expository writing. They offer drop-in tutoring, class field trips, writing workshops, and in-schools programs. And the best part is, all of their services are FREE!

Wait, that’s only one of the best parts. Another best part is that you can buy books written by the students of 826CHI right at the Boring Store. Have you ever read a book of short stories by a group of elementary students? If you haven’t, I can tell you one thing—it will make you wish you were 8 again.

And yet ANOTHER best part is that the people at 826CHI don’t take themselves terribly seriously. They take what they DO seriously, but will you find them hosting a gala with $900 tickets to raise money for their organization? If they are, they’re doing that undercover, too.

826CHI makes contributing attainable for volunteers of various age and income with events like the Moustache-a-thon, where participants find people to sponsor them as they dare to attempt a feat that’s equally as impressive as running 26.2 miles—growing facial hair! Even the baby-faced can participate by competing in mustache-related challenges, like writing a song about a mustache, or making a mustache related craft. This is an event that doesn’t cost you any money to participate—a little dignity, maybe—but it allows you to give a lot.

And, if you’re feeling nostalgic about your high school days, or you finally have your braces off and would like a second chance at attending prom, you’re in luck. Each year, 826CHI hosts a themed prom where you can dress up, drink, dance and pretend like you’re 17 again. This year’s prom is titled Prom Hanks, and partygoers are encouraged to dress like a character from any Tom Hanks movie. Money raised from this, and other events, goes towards keeping 826Chi’s programs completely FREE. Buy your tickets here before they sell out!

Event details:
April 24th, 2010 at 8pm
Pulaski Park Field house (Wicker Park)
Tickets are $35 and (according to their site) include: refillable cup for hooch, food, silent auction, not silent music, and dancing, dancing, dancing

I was lucky enough to get Patrick Shaffner, the Lead Spy in Residence at 826CHI, to answer a couple of questions for me about the organization. Basically, he owed me for using a picture of me with an onion ring mustache in a Moustache-a-thon newsletter without telling me!

How do you come up with the ideas for your events? Mustache-a-thon, Prom Hanks, Scrabble for Cheaters, etc…?
After eating a seven-course meal, heavy on pasta and candy, I sit on the Idea Throne. Once on the Throne, a volunteer shouts, “What shall the event be?” And then, inspiration strikes and I am able to declare the new event. In other words, there is no method, per se, for developing events.

I’m fortunate to work with amazing volunteers and staff members and friends and family that are eager to brainstorm.  826CHI is also fortunate to have a few brother and sister 826 chapters in other cities that we bounce ideas off of or steal ideas from!

What’s one thing you want our readers to know about 826chi?
Come to Prom Hanks. Come and volunteer. Stop on by the Boring Store. Buy our students’ books.

Maybe, if you stop in, Patrick will let you sit on his idea throne. Or maybe, you’ll just end up making an impact on some kids’ lives. Either way, YOU WIN!

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