Community spreads Christmas cheer to the needy
Scores of children and families came out to receive some early holiday cheer – and giveaway. Around the city, a number of elected officials and community organizations
plenty of gifts, too – as Ald. Emma Mitts hosted her 37th Ward’s annual holiday toy helped to “make the season bright” for less fortunate kids and their families.
by Kathy Chaney can. I wish I could feed the world,”
DEFENDER STAFF WRITER Jones, a former South Side resident,
told the Defender.
The economic downturn the Also on Christmas Eve, U.S. Rep.
nation has taken tightened the purse Danny Davis, D-7th, and friends
strings of many families, leaving will take clothes, food and toys
them unable to provide food and around to drug rehab centers and
gifts for their children during this homeless shelters in his district to
holiday season as they had in the spread the holiday cheer.
past. “They’ve been doing this for
About 200 families on the South years and usually sings Christmas
Side will be presented with a bag of carols and read to the kids,” said Ira
food to take home on Christmas Eve Cohen, spokesman for the congress-
to prepare for the holiday. man.
The Paul Hall Boys Club in the Several local elected officials and
Brainard neighborhood will be sup- business owners came to the rescue
plied the food donations by Kevin earlier this month in separate events
Jones, the executive chef at the to bring toys and smiles to the faces
Wyndham Lisle Hotel and of many children. Some families
Executive Meeting Center in north also received clothes and food.
suburban Lisle. Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) held a toy
“I provided food last year on a giveaway for the needy families in
whim and said to myself that I could her West Side ward.
do more. I vowed to bring more food “The holidays are a special time
this year and thanks to my network giving and sharing, and given our
of friends, I’m able to help feed difficult economic climate, we know
more families this time around. I that without our help, many children
will continue to do it as long as I
Hundreds of children received early Christmas gifts during yuletide giveaways hosted by World
See CHRISTMAS CHEER, page 25
Vision Chicago. These girls received their gifts Dec. 12 at Bethlehem Star church, 8938 S. Cottage
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Chicago Defender •
ChicagoDefender.com • December 23-29, 2009
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