Chicagoland

70 years of making Christmas wishes come true

By Joyce Duriga | Editor
Thursday, December 7, 2017

Catholic Charities makes Christmas wishes come true

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago has been serving those in need for 10 decades. For seven of those they’ve collected and distributed toys to children for Christmas.
Mollie Stein and Lianna Petruccio pull toys for an order during a Dec. 3 packing session at Merchandise Mart for Catholic Charities “Celebration of Giving.” (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the Catholic Charities Junior Board sort toys Dec. 3 at Merchandise Mart for Catholic Charities' “Celebration of Giving.” (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Toys ready for packing Dec. 3 at the Merchandise Mart for Catholic Charities' "Celebration of Giving." (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Alex Rubalcava fills out order forms Dec. 3 at a packing session at Merchandise Mart for Catholic Charities “Celebration of Giving.” (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago has been serving those in need for 10 decades. For seven of those they’ve collected and distributed toys to children for Christmas. 

“This is the 70th year that we’re doing this program and it all started because the parents who adopted children through the adoption services at Catholic Charities said ‘What about the kids that don’t get adopted?’” said Melissa Dicesare, the volunteer relations manager for Catholic Charities in charge of this year’s “Celebration of Giving” toy drive. “They started this toy drive making sure that everyone was able to open presents on Christmas Day.” 

For 17 days in December hundreds of volunteers descend upon Merchandise Mart to help sort and pack up toys for distribution. The Merchandise Mart donates the space for the drive. 

Donations come from corporations, parishes and individuals. When the drive is over, 25,000 children will have received toys for Christmas. 
This year the agency also started a “sponsor a family” program that provides toys and basic need items to 457 families who are part of their programs in Cook and Lake counties.  

“It’s different than some other programs because they are kids we know the names of,” said Marie Jochum, associate director of board relations and mission engagement. “These are kids our case workers are working with on an ongoing basis so we’re really helping to make sure that this is really part of the self-sufficiency plan.”

This year the toy drive also has an Amazon registry where people can buy things online that families request. The list was curated to make sure it meets real needs and isn’t something a family can’t really use. 

The “Celebration of Giving” brings joy to not just the families but the volunteers and donors too. 

Mollie Stein and her friend Lianna Petruccio were packing toys on Dec. 3 as part of a group from Catholic Charities Junior Board. 

Stein said she was happy to give back this Christmas. 

“We’re so lucky to have everything we do have. I think it’s important to take a step back and realize how lucky we are, be grateful for it and give back,” 
Joe Hobein knows that well. For 15 years he has served as the toy drive’s lead volunteer, helping to direct the other volunteers and show them how to fulfill the orders. He is also the lead volunteer for Catholic Charities’ Tuesday night dinners. 

“I get to work with some great people every year,” he said. “And where would all these people in need go if Catholic Charities wasn’t here?”

Jochum said the toys really bring joy to children and families during the holiday. She recalled her time as a social worker, when she brought toys from the “Celebration of Giving” to a recently arrived refuge family that fled the violence in Iraq. 

“We try to bring the toys when the children aren’t home, but the 5-year- old was there. I said, ‘Oh, did you know Santa came to my office since you just moved here he didn’t know where to find you?’ He said to his mother, ‘Mama, I thought Papa Noel was killed in the bombing,’” Jochum recalled. 

The family used to get their toys from the local church and it had been destroyed in a bombing. It was a special moment, Jochum said. 

“That’s what our donors for the toy drive do, they make these special moments happen where the children feel they are not forgotten,” she said. 

To donate to the Celebration of Giving, visit www.catholiccharities.net. 

Topics:

  • catholic charities
  • christmas

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