“Good Night, Sleep Tight”

No good night’s sleep is complete without a pair of comfy pajamas, a warm blanket, a snuggly stuffed animal, and of course, a bedtime story. Thanks to a generous donation received yesterday, HSP will be able to provide all of these items to over 50 children! On Tuesday afternoon, 51 packages of pjs, books, blankets, and stuffed animals were donated to HSP by a local service project known as “Good Night, Sleep Tight.” This project was started last year by high school students Piper Winkler and Ana Powell. This year, due to Piper moving out of state, Ana was in charge of the donation process along with her friend Connie Linardos. Ann and Connie sought and received assistance from their friends and family in order to collect all the items for the packages. HSP will provide these donations to needy children through the Christmas Offering. It’s always so great to see young people giving back to the community. We are grateful for Ana and Connie’s hard work and generosity.

ChiTAG Toy Donation

          This past Sunday, HSP’s Executive Director, Kristin Maxwell, along with Sandy Bergeson and Nancy Dorsman, two wonderful HSP volunteers, went to Navy Pier in Chicago to pick up a generous donation of toys and games from the Chicago Toy & Game Fair (ChiTAG,) hosted by the Toy Industry Foundation. 

Toys and Games donated to HSP through ChiTAG vendors.

Various companies and individuals who were present at ChiTAG donated toys and games that did not sell at the event to three charities within the Chicago-land area; this year, along with HSP, the Toy Industry Foundation also donated to Kidz Korna and Big Brothers Big Sisters Chicago.  Because of the generous donation from the vendors at ChiTAG, HSP received around 200 new toys and games, which will be used for the Christmas Offering and the Children’s Birthday Project.  HSP would like to thank the Toy Industry Foundation, ChiTAG, and all of the various companies and individuals at the fair for all of their support and generosity; these toys and games will certainly make children’s birthdays and Christmases much brighter.

With Christmas quickly approaching, HSP is looking for donations of toys to give to the children we serve.  If you are interested in learning more about how you can donate toys and games, please feel free to call or email us!     

Wonderful Christmas Food Drives

Representatives from John L. Sipley school
dropping off a generous food drive.

Our Christmas Offering is quickly approaching, we have had many schools and other organizations drop of the food they have collected over the past few weeks. Thank you to the following schools and organizations for hosting food drives: Willowbrook High School, John L. Sipley School, Chesterbrook Academy Rollingridge, Four Winds Waldorf and Anne M. Jeans School. All of their food drives were a huge success. HSP will be able to serve many families and seniors with the food that was collected from these drives. 

Local Schools Give Back

Our Christmas Offering is quickly approaching, so to help us out we have had many volunteer groups from local schools come in this week. Some of the tasks that they helped with were sorting non- perishables, meat and paper products for families and seniors in need. These groups also helped with sorting toys for needy kids who will receive Christmas presents this holiday season. On Wednesday, we welcomed a group from District 204 Steps program who were very eager to help. Yesterday, we had three groups throughout the day and evening—Glendbard North’s AIM Program, the Rotolo Middle School Builders Club and the whole freshmen group from the Carol Stream Panther Chapter of the Young Men’s Service League (YMSL) along with their mothers. Last but not least, our monthly group from Ms. Heggen’s class at Glenbard South High School will be joining us today.

While we very much need the help of volunteers to keep HSP running smoothly, these students are also gaining different skills and learning the importance of giving back while working with us. Students have the opportunity to learn how to be a leader and gain teamwork skills from volunteering too. Thank you for choosing to spend your time volunteering with us and for all of your hard work!     

HSP Salutes our Friends at Fed Ex

On Saturday, November 15, HSP received a very generous donation from the FedEx Cares Delivery Hope campaign, an organization in which team members participate in volunteer events to benefit local communities and the United Way. On Saturday, FedEx team members delivered over 500 bags of paper products for HSP’s Senior Citizen Project. 125 seniors were provided with a 2-3 month supply of toilet paper, paper towels,  and facial tissue. This event occurred on the same day as HSP’s Senior Delivery Day in which over 70 volunteer drivers and loaders were present to distribute and deliver 100 pounds of groceries directly to the homes of those 125 seniors. The paper drive was coordinated through the Fleet Maintenance Shop in Chicago Heights, and FedEx team members from more than 10 locations helped contribute to the effort. The addition of these paper products to the monthly grocery deliveries helps the seniors maintain a healthy lifestyle. We would like to thank FedEx for their amazing support.

DuPage Woodworkers Club

Yesterday, the DuPage Woodworkers Club donated 500 handmade toys for HSP’s Christmas Offering. The members of the club make toys throughout the year to provide for impoverished children at Christmas time. HSP is grateful to be one of the recipient organizations of these wonderful toys year after year. Through our annual Christmas Offering, HSP serves 350 families with nutritious groceries and provides Christmas gifts to over 1,600 children. Donors like the DuPage Woodworkers Club make a big difference in the community through their service. If you too would like to be involved in any of our programs at HSP during our Christmas season, please give us a call at 630-221-8340.

Rick Ogren of the Woodworkers Club with HSP's
Executive Director Kristin Maxwell.

HSP Welcomes a New Intern

This week, we welcome a new intern, Stephanie Harding! Stephanie graduated this past Spring from Northern Illinois University with a major in English. She would like to work with the community and hopes to give back, which is why working at HSP interested her. One of the things she hopes to gain from her time here is experience with business writing. This is not her first experience with service though. While in high school, she did a lot of work with a youth group and with NHS. Her time at HSP will be spent helping with the Christmas Offering and interviewing our seniors for their annual “senior updates”. Stephanie loves to write and hopes to pursue a career where she gets to do so. Her other interests include a love of music and reading. She especially likes J.K. Rowling. Other fun fact about Stephanie is she recently wrote her first novel! We are excited to have Stephanie here with us and from all of us at HSP, welcome!

Glenbard South Life Skills Class Volunteer Group

Today, HSP hosted a volunteer group which consisted of 10 students and 4 chaperons from Glenbard South High School’s life skills class. The group spent an hour and a half creating bags of toilet paper, paper towels and facial tissue for the senior citizens HSP serves. We have had groups from Glenbard South before, but this is the first time the life skills class had volunteered here, and we are very happy and appreciative to have them here. Each of the 125 seniors enrolled in our program, receive fresh fruits, vegetables, loaves of bread and groceries each month and receive a care kit once every 3 months. If you too would like to be involved in our SCP, please give us a call at 630-221-8340.

Thank You Saturday Volunteers!

It was an exciting day at HSP on Saturday. First we had our monthly Senior Citizen Project delivery day. We’re thankful for all of the volunteer loaders and drivers who braved the weather to help us distribute over six tons of groceries to 125 needy seniors. With their help our seniors were able to receive the nutrition they need. HSP will be forever thankful for our loaders and drivers who help make the Senior Citizen Project successful!

Later in the day we hosted a group of eleven volunteers from Elmhurst College who sorted and boxed up non-perishable food for the needy families in our Christmas Offering. The volunteers made food boxes for 150 families! Thank you so much to the volunteers who shared their Saturday with us to help us serve needy families in the community. 

Delivery Day Preparations

This week was very busy for HSP! With preparing for the holidays and our November senior delivery day tomorrow, there has been a lot to accomplish. To finish preparing for the 125 seniors we serve, our friends from UPS came to volunteer. The UPS volunteers graciously gave up time out of their morning to sort produce in the warehouse for SCP. We greatly appreciate the continued support from UPS. Without their help and other dedicated volunteers, serving our seniors would not be possible.    

Generous Party Supply Donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Yesterday, HSP received an amazing donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of Naperville that consisted of 90 party-in-a-box kits (PIABs). This was in addition to the generous donation of 107 PIABs back in September. The supplies for these kits were donated by the members of the church and assembled by 8-11 year old youths at Latter Day Saints. We thank them for helping us make a big difference in the lives of the needy children we serve. 

Holiday Update

The holiday season is in full swing here at HSP! We have been busy preparing for our Christmas Offering and have already received donations for the holidays. It is not too late to get involved. One way to do this is by hosting a toy or food drive for our Christmas Offering. Another way to serve the clientele at HSP is by taking a child’s name for the gift giving trees. Every day, we are getting calls from local families in need who are asking to be on our waiting list for Christmas so any donation, no matter the size, is greatly appreciated. To learn more about how you can make a difference this holiday season, please visit www.humanitarianservice.org/whatwedo/christmasoffering.html.     

Young Men’s Service League & American Family Insurance Volunteer Groups

Over the past two days, HSP has had the pleasure of hosting two volunteer groups that graciously gave their time to support our programs. Yesterday, the Panther Chapter of the Young Men’s Service League (YMSL) lent their support and today, we were joined by volunteers from American Family Insurance. YMSL is a mother/son service group in which mothers and their teenage sons bond over volunteering and service projects. Yesterday, the group had 6 volunteers that devoted their time to sort non-perishable food items.

American Family Insurance encourages their associates to devote their time and energy by helping and donating to charities. The group of 9 volunteers came and created 75 boxes of non perishables weighing a total of 1,875 lbs. With American Family Insurance and our other supporters, HSP will distribute these boxes of food to help needy families during the Christmas season. We would like to thank them for helping us out and we appreciate what they do in supporting charities throughout the world.

Through our annual Christmas Offering, HSP serves 350 families with nutritious groceries and provides Christmas gifts to over 1,600 children. Volunteer groups like YMSL and American Family Insurance make a big difference in the community through their service. If you too would like to be involved in any of our programs at HSP during our Christmas Offering season, please give us a call at 630-221-8340.

Happy Birthday Michelle!

As we're busy scurrying to prepare for our Senior Delivery Day, we took time to recognize our Senior Citizen Coordinator on her special day. HSP joined Michelle as she celebrates her 27^th Birthday. Michelle works hard to make sure the Senior Citizen Project is a success and that every senior in our program receives what they need. Happy Birthday Michelle!

Thank You Glen Crest Middle School

On Friday November 7^th HSP had a volunteer group come in from Glen Crest Middle School. There were 14 students along with their leader Craig Hoffman who sorted and took inventory of bread for Senior Delivery Day. Glen Crest Middle School is from Glen Ellyn and has become a popular name around HSP because of their wonderful visits every fall. With the holiday season quickly approaching HSP is very busy making sure all of our families will have food and gifts for Christmas. Thank you Glen Crest Middle School with the help from you 123 needy seniors will receive the nutrition they need on Saturday.

Last call for Entertainment books!

There is less than a month to pick up an Entertainment Book for 2015. These books are full of thousands of dollars worth of savings through coupons. The sale of Entertainment books is run by HSP supporter, Sheri Kohout. This sale started back in August and is an effort to raise funds for our Senior Citizen Project. SCP provides 125 seniors with 100 pounds of nutritious groceries monthly. The Entertainment books are filled with hundreds of offers for local restaurants, stores and attractions. Sales of these books conclude on December 3^rd in the northern and western suburbs. Books are $25 and even come with the option to download a mobile app which gives access to even more deals nationwide! We appreciate your support and hope to see you soon!     

Fall Shopping Jamboree Tonight!

          The Carol Stream Woman’s Club is hosting its annual Fall Shopping Vendor Fair from 6 to 9 PM tonight.  This fair will include over 20 vendors from home businesses and crafters, so it’s the perfect opportunity to check off some of your holiday shopping early.  Along with all of the wonderful vendors who will be present, the fair will also include a DJ, fun raffles, and many refreshments.  This yearly event is one of the Carol Stream Woman’s Club’s main fundraisers, and the funds collected will be used to support many local nonprofit organizations like HSP.

          If you are interested in attending the Fall Shopping Vendor Fair, it will be taking place tonight at Joe Cotton Ford, located at 175 W. North Avenue, Carol Stream, IL.  Parking is free, and it is sure to be a good time! 

Thanks to Montini NHS and Philadelphia Insurance Volunteers

In the last couple of days, HSP has had two great groups of volunteers join us. Yesterday afternoon, we had seven wonderful volunteers from the National Honors Society at Montini Catholic High School sort bread which will be distributed to the needy seniors enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project. The next delivery day is quickly approaching on the 15^th so we greatly appreciate the help.

Not wanting these youngsters to have all the fun, today a group of seven volunteers from Philadelphia Insurance Company helped us by creating non- perishable boxes for the needy families who will receive nutritious groceries through our Christmas Offering program. Philadelphia Insurance encourages its associates to serve in the communities in which they live and work by promoting volunteerism and charitable giving. We are so happy these volunteers joined us thanks to this great program! We wish to thank these two groups, as well as all of our other wonderful volunteers, for helping HSP make a difference in the lives of the needy seniors, children and families we serve.       

Food drive from Wheaton Warrenville South High School

Yesterday, HSP received a generous food drive from Wheaton Warrenville South High School (WWS) organized by the Athletic Leadership Council and Freshmen Mentor Group. The groups collected nine boxes full of non-perishables which they dropped off to help impoverished families and senior citizens in HSP’s programs. We would like to thank these two groups for hosting this amazing food drive. Through our annual Christmas Offering, HSP serves 350 families with nutritious groceries. It is food drives like this great one from WWS that allows HSP to continually provide this much needed service to the neediest members of our communities. If you too would like to be involved in any of our programs at HSP during our Christmas Offering season to make a big difference for families living under the poverty line, please give us a call at 630-221-8340. 

Thank You Cards from Grateful Families

On Friday The Humanitarian Service Project received thank you cards from the Head Start Program in East Aurora. While not officially part of our Children’s Birthday Project, HSP was able to serve all of the 226 children in the Head Start Program with birthday gifts. Each child will receive a bag full of five toys, two books, flashcards, an activity book, and either a game or puzzle for their birthday.  We would like to thank all of our supporters without them we wouldn’t be able to give these needy children a special birthday. We greatly appreciate your generosity and your support of the Humanitarian Service Project! Below are a few of the thank yous from the families at Head Start.