As the holiday season nears, some struggling families worry they won’t be able to capture the magic of Christmas. That’s where the Catholic Charities community steps in.
For 76 years, Catholic Charities has been providing Christmas gifts to thousands of individuals and families in Cook and Lake counties. More than 2,000 volunteers work like elves from August to December, connecting with donors to provide gifts to families and children during the Christmas holiday. Once gift collection begins, volunteers sort gifts, match them with families, and assist in the distribution of gifts to clients of Catholic Charities and beyond. Donors and volunteers are essential to making the holiday special.
“This is a really powerful, tangible way to help others celebrate the magic of Christmas,” says Brittany McGhee, Senior Director of Mission Engagement at Catholic Charities. “Many families, clients, and guests we serve may not be able to provide for their families, and this is a wonderful way to help support them. “You’re not providing—you’re helping them create their own family magic,” McGhee says, adding that plastic gift cards are especially appreciated by parents. Catholic Charities is hoping to serve even more families this holiday season by opening our arms even wider.
Businesses, corporations, parishes, schools, or individuals can sponsor a family which provides gifts and necessities to the families in Catholic Charities programs who are most in need. Donors spend about $50 per family member. Staff at Catholic Charities match donors to gift recipients.
In Cook County, unwrapped gifts should be placed in large garbage bags and brought to Catholic Charities, 721 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, between Nov. 25 and Dec. 5. In Lake County, gifts should be brought to St. Mary of Vernon Catholic Church parking lot, 236 U.S. Hwy 45, Indian Creek, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7.
For more information and gift registry lists, visit http://catholiccharities.galambos-dev.comwp/give/celebration-of-giving/ If you are interested in volunteering for Celebration of Giving, please email volunteer@catholiccharities.net
Best kind of Christmas magic
Every year since 2010, David Patchin, Senior Vice President of Fifth Third Commercial Real Estate, has been recruiting up to 12 volunteers from the Commercial Real Estate and Wealth Management groups at Fifth Third to volunteer at the Celebration of Giving. “The event is fun to participate in! The warm feeling that you have helped provide Christmas gifts and basic necessities to families that otherwise could not have a Christmas is unequaled,” David says. “The opportunity to give to others and hopefully create some joy in their lives is the best kind of Christmas magic.”
‘Walking’ in someone else’s shoes
Even after moving out of the state six years ago, John Bradshaw, and his wife, Katherine, return every year to volunteer at Celebration of Giving and sponsor a family in need of gifts. “Participating in the Celebration of Giving certainly sets up the mindset to be considerate of others, to ‘walk’ in someone else’s shoes and really puts a focus on how we sometimes take some simple things, everyday things, for granted,” John says. “We should be thankful for what we have and even more so, for what we can share with others.”
A program that brings out the best in all of us
Jim Wogan has been the lead volunteer for Catholic Charities’ Lake County Christmas Gift Program for 28 years. A retired volunteer coordinator for Catholic Charities, Jim has continued his work in helping deliver Christmas gifts to thousands of Lake County residents every year. It’s a three-phase process for participants and volunteers. During the month of September, Jim and his team of “hard-core volunteers” meet with Lake County residents interested in participating in the program. All they need to qualify is a Medicaid card and an identification card with a Lake County address. They share their name, ages, sizes and three gift requests from each family member, which is later matched up with a donor.In recent years, Jim says Stevenson High School has requested the names and gift choices of 1,000 individuals, while six Lake County parishes request anywhere from 300 to 1,000 gifts each year. Christmas trees with the names and sizes of gift recipients are also set up at Gurnee Mills and Hawthorn Mall in an effort to collect even more gifts for those in need.
The Lake County Celebration of Giving team will be accepting gifts through Dec. 7 and distribute to families by Dec. 20. It takes a total of 400 volunteers to manage the gift program.
“Many volunteers tell me they can’t imagine Christmas without volunteering,” Jim says. “You’re getting donors at their best, volunteers at their best, and families at their best.”
Individuals interested in donating to the Toy Shower can contribute new unwrapped gifts:
Accepted:
• Toys
• Games
• Art/craft supplies
• Sporting goods
Not Accepted:
• Suggestively violent toys
• Play weapons
• Liquids
• Food items
Suggested donation: $25 for each toy for children under age 10, or plastic gift cards in $25 increments from Amazon, Target, and Walmart for teens.