Looking for a few more Santas

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SPRING VALLEY — Area agencies are hoping to prove to Bureau County children that, yes, indeed, there is a Santa Claus.

Every year, area agencies and churches gather toys for children who might not otherwise find anything under their trees or in their stockings on Christmas morning.

With the continuation of the nation’s financial situation, Candyce Wolsfeld, executive director of Project Success of Eastern Bureau County, said the need is greater than ever this year.

Project Success will hold its Santa’s Workshop Saturday for more than 500 children in 176 families in the Arlington, Bureau, Cherry, Ladd, Spring Valley, Dalzell, DePue, Seatonville and Hollowayville area.

The official deadline for dropping off toys is Friday, but the need is so great Wolsfeld said donations could still be dropped off at Lincoln School Saturday morning.

“We’re not in good shape,” she said. “There’s going to have to be more shopping.”

Toys will still be gratefully accepted, but as the distribution date draws near, Wolsfeld said cash would be especially appreciated, so Project Success workers can go buy the necessary items to fill in the gaps after they see what is needed.

Toys for all ages are needed, and Wolsfeld said there is a special need for gifts for children aged 8-11. She suggested such items as inexpensive MP3 players, Legos, CDs and movies.

Wolsfeld said it’s good to anticipate the joy of the children on Christmas morning, and the looks on the parents’ faces on Saturday.

“Many of them say, ‘Thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means,’” Wolsfeld said.

Donations may be brought to 500 N. Terry St., Spring Valley. Monetary donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 208, Spring Valley or dropped off at Spring Valley City Bank.

In Wyanet, the Wyanet Police Department is in its third year of collecting Christmas toys for children. Wyanet Police Chief Todd Marquez said the need is greater than ever before, close to doubling the number of needy families in previous years.

“The need is huge this year,” Marquez said. “But I’m comforted that these kids will have something to open on Christmas.”

Marquez and his wife, Shari, have spearheaded the collection drive through the Wyanet Police Department. Donations are still being accepted at city hall or the police department.
Volunteers are coming on Dec. 12 to city hall to wrap the toys and gifts, which will be distributed within the next couple days to needy Wyanet children.

“It’s pretty touching to be part of this,” Marquez said. “I was brought up with the idea that kids shouldn’t go without Christmas. When you see the joy on those kids’ faces when they get their gifts, it’s an amazing feeling. When I wake up on Christmas morning and I know I’ve taken care of my family and I’ve also helped other families, then it makes it all worthwhile.”

On Wednesday, Bureau County United Way Director Michelle Lymberopoulos said the number of children on the United Way’s gift list is also larger than ever before. Last year, the United Way served 375 children. This year’s list is at 427.

The majority of the needy children have been referred to the United Way by their school districts, though other agencies have made some referrals. There have also been some self-referrals, she said.

Thirty-seven collection boxes have been placed around the county to gather toys for the United Way drive. The final pick-up date for those boxes is Dec. 11, with distribution of the gifts set for Dec. 12. There is still time to give, Lymberopoulos said.

“I’m expecting a shortfall of toys this year because of the number of children on our list,” Lymberopoulos said. “We try to give each child three gifts, and typically we can give them five or six. But I don’t know about this year.”

Cash donations are always welcomed, and then she can purchase the needed additional gifts. The local United Way office is located at 401 S. Main St. in Princeton, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 308, Princeton, IL 61356.

The annual Christmas toy drive is an important community outreach of the United Way, Lymberopoulos said.

“It’s a big responsibility, and I take it very seriously,” the director said. “Our efforts have been intensely directed toward providing these needy Bureau County families with help to provide Christmas gifts for their children. We don’t want any child to go without a gift at Christmas. With so many local families facing layoffs and job losses, the financial and economic situation in Bureau County is creating an increase in the number families in need for all of our services. The toy drive is just one service, one way to help them.“

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