TINLEY PARK | More than 700 penguins are looking for a new home.

The Vogt Visual Arts Center in Tinley Park has started a new program to help troops overseas. In cooperation with the Village of Tinley Park’s Veteran’s Commission, the center is collecting items from the soldiers’ wish lists this month. As an incentive, anyone who brings in an item for the soldiers can select a penguin from the more than 700 that will be on display at the center.

Operation: Penguins for Patriots was developed by Julie Sklar, center director, and her brother, John Wegner. Wegner has collected penguins for years but decided it was time to disband the collection. The siblings came up with the idea of helping the service men and women overseas while putting the collection to good use. “The penguins are adorable, and hopefully we’ll get the message to some penguin lovers who would also like to help out the troops,” said Sklar. The penguins are on display at the Vogt Visual Arts Center.

Donations for the troops will be accepted this month. The list of the soldiers’ needs is available at www.tinleyparkdistrict.org. A special collection will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Vogt Visual Arts Center is at 17420 S. 67th Court in Tinley Park.

For more information contact Sklar at (708) 309-4371 or visit www.tinleyparkdistrict.org.