Oak Park and River Forest residents came together and made very significant donations to people who lost their homes and belongings to Hurricane Katrina. Now local organizations are asking folks to think about people in their own villages who are less fortunate this holiday season. Again, people are rallying with donations of toys, clothes and food, as well as time, to ensure that no one is forgotten.
Here are some of the major efforts underway by volunteers who work hard to spread a bit of holiday cheer.
The Holiday Food and Gift Basket program
One of the most popular and oldest programs aimed at helping those less fortunate in this area is the Holiday Food and Gift Basket program. The program, which operates out of the River Forest Township offices, will provide gifts to nearly 800 families”797 to be exact.
According to Janet Haisman, one of the program’s seasonal coordinators, this translates to about 2,000 individuals. This number is up from last year’s 780 families that benefited from the program.
The Holiday Food and Gift Basket Program, which also distributes food certificates to needy families at Thanksgiving, was started by and for many years operated by Youth Services of Oak Park and River Forest Townships, in conjunction with the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry. However, in 2001, when the program became too large for township employees to run along with doing their everyday duties, the townships contracted it out to the Community of Congregations. Its small office staff has continued the program for the past five years. The township office continues to provide the funding and space in the River Forest Community Center building. This year the program also received a small grant from the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation.
Haisman said about 55 social workers representing just about every social service agency in River Forest and Oak Park contacted and interviewed those in need and then made referrals to the program.
“This is most helpful, because the social workers know the families and can direct the people to us,” she said. All of the recipients are Oak Park or River Forest residents except for about 20 families. “Those families are referred by churches, and the people are longtime church members. We deliver the gifts to the churches on our delivery day, so our only deliveries are within the boundaries of Oak Park and River Forest.”
Once the families are selected, the recipients are matched with “adopters.”
Haisman said while the deadline for toy donations is fast approaching, the program is always looking for last minute sponsors, or “angels ” as Haisman calls them, who might be willing to sponsor someone at the last minute or donate money so that program coordinators and volunteers can purchase gift cards for those who missed being sponsored.
“So that is our greatest need at the moment,” she said. “People can always call and make monetary donations if they do not wish to actually be a sponsor. We have several families who have asked only for gift cards to local stores, so we can always use money for those purchases.”
Haisman said there is also one family wanting a used computer (that is at least Windows 95 capable.)
“Usually we ask that gifts be new, but something like a computer can always be used,” she said.
Tomorrow is also the last day to participate in Great Harvest Bread’s “Loaf of Love” program, where customers can reserve a loaf of bread for families to receive with their holiday gift baskets. Great Harvest owner Cathy Yen is asking for a $2 donation per loaf”that covers the cost”and she’s donating the time and labor to produce freshly-baked loafs for the baskets. Great Harvest Bread is open until 7 p.m. on weekdays, and is at located at the corner of Oak Park Avenue and Lake Street.
In addition to a few last minute sponsors, Haisman said the program is also in need of volunteer drivers for delivery day on Saturday, Dec. 17, starting at 8:30 a.m. People can call 771-6159 ex. 244 and volunteer, or they can just come to United Lutheran Church, 409 Greenfield Street (at the corner of Greenfield Street and Ridgeland Avenue). Volunteers will be loading gifts out of the front door and the alley door, so volunteer drivers can come to either door.
Sarah’s Inn Holiday Project
For many years area police departments have been drop-off points for new toys for the children who call Sarah’s Inn home during the holiday season. Sarah’s Inn is a domestic violence shelter that serves victims of domestic violence from over 22 communities. According to Beatrice Albelo of Sarah’s Inn, “The Holiday Project,” which was established over six years ago, is a way for the moms living in the shelter to give something to their children this holiday.
“Using the donations, we set up a mock shop and this allows the moms to pick out toys for their kids,” Albelo said. Depending on the number of donations, each mother gets to pick out about four toys per child.
Drop boxes for Sarah’s Inn are at Oak Park and River Forest police departments as well as at several police departments throughout the area, such as Melrose Park and Cicero. Albelo said not only do they need donations of new toys but also new books, gift cards, and new scarves, mittens and coats. Even though time is short, donations are still urgently needed. Albelo stressed that everything donated must be brand new.
Sarah’s Inn also benefits during the holiday season from a Breakfast with Santa at the Cheney Mansion in early December.
“Families who come to the breakfast are asked to bring a new toy for the children of Sarah’s Inn,” Albelo said. “The employees of Gottlieb Hospital also buy gifts for the children here.”
The toy drop boxes will be collected from the police departments on Friday, Dec. 16.
For more information, call Sarah’s Inn at 386-3305.
The Christmas Cheer Foundation
What started more than 20 years ago as an impulse to feed the hungry on Christmas day from Oak Park’s Good Shepherd Church kitchen has grown into a bona fide not-for-profit. The Christmas Cheer Foundation prepares and delivers meals to homebound and hungry individuals and families throughout the western suburbs and into a small portion of Chicago on Christmas morning.
Several years ago, the demand outgrew the capacity of Good Shepherd’s kitchen. The foundation’s operation is now located at the Dominican University Priory in River Forest.
Composed of all volunteers, the Christmas Cheer Foundation delivers prepared meals, toys and books to the needy on Christmas day. Oak Parker Kim Miller, who’s been involved almost since the beginning, plans to be up early again this Christmas getting meals prepared and ready to go. It caps her yearlong effort to keep the foundation growing.
“This is so much a part of my life it’s become an extension of me,” said Miller. Although the focus is still Christmas, the foundation has also branched out to collect “goodies” leftover from trade shows and deliver them to people in need throughout the year, she added.
This Christmas, the group plans to put together meals of bread, ham, a vegetable, salad, fruit and a treat for between 7,000 and 7,500 people, referred either through public service agencies, churches, schools, or township service offices, or who simply called for help. About half of the recipients are children; those under 6 will also get a stuffed animal and those between 6 and 12 will be given a book. Present wrapping is now underway at St. Gertrude Church in Franklin Park.
The effort depends not only on hundreds of volunteers but also on contributions from community members and local business owners.
The need for volunteers and donations grows annually. Volunteers are still needed this year for meal preparation, transporting meals and toys and clean-up. Meal preparation will begin about 6 a.m. at the Dominican University Campus Priory, 7200 W. Division St., River Forest, and deliveries will start around 8:30 a.m.. Call the Christmas Cheer Foundation at 383-0661 or see the website at www.christmascheer.org for more information.
First United Church
Alternate Christmas Store
In its 21st year, the First United Church Alternate Christmas Store opens it doors for the four Sundays of Advent. The purpose is to raise money for the Church World Service, a partnership of numerous churches that funds self-help programs around the world, as well as for a few other national organizations. Not one penny earned goes back to the church, Joanne Despotes, a church member said.
The store, which is open in the church lounge before and after church services, 9:30 to 11 a.m. and 12 to 1 p.m., is only open for one more Sunday this holiday season, on Dec. 18. According to Despotes, two long tables and a wall display are filled with various items for sale, from coffee and chocolates to disaster recovery kits and weavings from Third World countries.
Despotes is very excited about some handcrafted spoons and spatulas they’ve received from Guatemala. The spoons and spatulas are made from fallen trees. “They’re sanded down and just beautiful,” she said.
The store also has some Palestinian crafts which were brought back by a church group who visited there. Despotes said some church members have donated items to the store, such as handcrafted holiday ornaments, crocheted items and blankets. There are also tools, a sewing machine, chairs and pecans for sale.
“There is a little story behind each item,” Despotes said.
Last year, the store’s 20th anniversary, produced the highest grosses to date, reaching $12,000. Despotes estimates the store collects on average about $10,000 each year, with 60 percent going to the Church World Service.
For more information, the public is welcome to visit the store this Sunday, or call 386-5215.
Hephzibah Children’s Association
Lots of volunteer and staff effort goes into ensuring that kids served by Hephzibah’s group home, family support services, foster care and day care programs are remembered during the holidays. And even though the annual “Bring a Gift” party is passed, there’s still plenty of opportunity to help out.
If you’d like to buy a gift for a child at Hephzibah, there are a couple of options, according to Maureen McGoorty, director of volunteer services. Whole Foods Market in River Forest has a “Giving Garland” decorated with hearts containing a child’s name and specific wish. Purchased gifts (in all price ranges) can be wrapped and returned to the store or to Hephzibah, 946 North Blvd., by Dec. 21. You can also call Stephanie at Hephzibah (386-8417 ex. 10) to get the name and wish of a child.
“Any gift for a child from birth to age 14 is also welcome,” noted McGoorty, adding that older kids especially appreciate gift cards from local music or book stores. Those gifts should be dropped off unwrapped at Hephzibah, so social workers can match gifts and recipients. They’ll continue to accept gifts through Dec. 21, since any extras are “appreciated and used” for birthdays, she said.
Volunteers are also needed to pick up and deliver gifts next week, and holiday helpers who can wrap gifts at Hephzibah are invited to join a wrapping party on Dec. 20. For information, call Ellen Prus at 386-8417 ex. 43.
If you’d like to volunteer this holiday season, there’s still time. Make a cash donation, buy a gift or volunteer a few hours. Here’s how to contact the charities in this story:
Holiday Food and Gift Basket Program
Those willing to donate last minute toys or money should call 771-6159 ex. 244. For delivery day on Saturday, Dec. 17, volunteer drivers are needed starting at 8:30 a.m. Call or come to United Lutheran Church, 409 Greenfield St. (corner of Greenfield Street and Ridgeland Avenue). Volunteers will be loading gifts out of both the front and alley doors, so drivers can come to either one.
Sarah’s Inn Holiday Project
The toy drop boxes will be collected from both the Oak Park and River Forest police departments on Friday, Dec. 16.
For more information, call Sarah’s Inn at 386-3305.
The Christmas Cheer Foundation
Meal preparation will begin about 6 a.m. at the Dominican University Campus Priory, 7200 W. Division St., in River Forest. For more information on meal preparation, delivery or other volunteer opportunities, call The Christmas Cheer Foundation at 383-0661, e-mail christmas@christmascheer.org., or see the website at www.christmascheer.org
Tax deductible monetary donations should be made payable to Christmas Cheer Foundation and sent to the Christmas Cheer Foundation, c/o St. Gertrude Parish, 9613 Schiller Blvd., Franklin Park, IL 60131.
First United Church Alternate Christmas Store
For more information about the First United Alternate Christmas Store, call 386-5215, or visit the store on Sunday, Dec. 18, at First United Church, 848 Lake St., from 9:30 to 11 a.m. or noon to 1 p.m.
Hephzibah Children’s Association
Contact Hephzibah, 946 North Blvd., at 386-8417 ex. 10 for a specific wish list item or visit the Giving Garland at Whole Foods Market, 7245 Lake St., River Forest. Presents must be returned by Dec. 21. Volunteers are also needed to wrap, pick up or deliver gifts.