Happy New Year from HSP

As 2015 comes to a close, we at HSP wish to take this time to reflect upon the year. It certainly was a busy year for us as we continued our mission of serving the senior citizens, children, and families struggling in poverty in our communities. In response to ever increasing need, HSP reached new heights in 2015, with many of our programs serving more people than ever before.  This would not have been possible if it were not for the many volunteers, donors, and other friends of HSP who lent their support to our programs throughout the year. We at HSP wish to thank everyone who shared their love and generosity to help us make a difference in the lives of those who truly need us. Have a Happy New Year, and we hope you will all join us for a wonderful 2016!

Thanks for a Successful Christmas Offering

With so many children, families, and seniors served over the past few weeks, there is much to be done at HSP as we close out the Christmas Offering for 2015. As the dust settles, we want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make the program a success. There were hundreds of volunteers who lent their support, from those who helped package food or organize gifts in our warehouse, to those who assisted in the distributions to the families and seniors. There were also many more that helped make the program possible by generously donating food and toys. Additionally, we’d like to thank those who gave monetary support, enabling us to provide for the families in our communities who need us most.

Thanks to all of those who provided assistance, HSP was able to make the holidays brighter and more joyous for the members of our communities who are impacted most by poverty. HSP wishes to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who made our Christmas Offering possible!

HSP Searching for “Secret Pals” for Seniors

HSP is looking for community members interested in signing up for our Secret Pal program! “Secret Pal” donors sign up to provide monthly gifts to one, or more, of the 133 low-income senior citizens in our Senior Citizen Project. These gifts, between a $5 and $25 value, can be either:

-Things the seniors need but cannot afford, such as, laundry detergent and stamps

-Fun items to show they are cared for, such as, puzzles and books

            Currently, we have 25 seniors in need of secret pals. Our seniors our always so touched and grateful for the generosity of the secret pal donors. If you would be interested in participating in our Secret Pal program, please contact HSP at 630-221-8340, or email us at hsp@humanitarianservice.org for more info.

Merry Christmas from HSP!

It is a happy day at HSP, as our 2015 Christmas Offering program comes to a close. The final families being served by the program will be picking up gifts for their children today. Over the past few weeks, HSP has distributed groceries and gifts to hundreds of families in need throughout DuPage and Kane counties. Thankfully, we had a lot of support. We wish to thank each and every friend of HSP who donated toys, food, their time, or their resources for the sake of the deserving children and families served by this program. Together, we have made a difference in the lives of so many. So, from all of us at HSP, we want to wish a happy and joyous holiday season to all of our supporters! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

A Huge “Thank You” to the Science of Spirituality

HSP would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our friends at the Science of Spirituality Center in Naperville. The members of the SOS collected money to purchase toys and food for the sake of the low-income children, and seniors we serve.  Throughout yesterday and today, HSP’s Executive Director, Kristin Senne, along with Science of Spirituality member Aseem Grover have purchased greatly needed toys and non-perishable food items with these funds.

The Science of Spirituality has become a great supporter of HSP over the past two years, and have done so much for the sake of seniors, children, and families in need in our communities. We want to thank them for this amazing outpouring of generosity!

HSP would also like to thank the Aldi stores in Naperville and Wheaton for their amazing service helping to facilitate this wonderful donation from the Science of Spirituality.

Season’s Greetings to our Volunteers

Today HSP’s Christmas Offering continues into its final week, as we are serving more and more low-income families from our waiting list. With over 2,000 children receiving gifts through this program, HSP has relied on the support of our wonderful volunteers in order to serve so many. Today, we received support from the “South Outreach” club from Wheaton-Warrenville South High School, our friends from the “Panther chapter” of the Young Men’s Service League, and even a group of former HSP interns who dropped by to lend a hand.

With so many in our communities in need of help, HSP has hosted hundreds of amazing volunteers over the past few months to make our Christmas Offering a success. We wish to extend our sincerest thanks to all of these volunteers for helping HSP serve these deserving children and families.

More Families Served!

HSP’s Christmas Offering is moving along! Today we will be distributing gifts and holiday groceries to over 100 low-income families who signed up for our Christmas waiting list. It is thanks to the generosity of everyone who donated toys that HSP was able to serve these deserving families. Along with these 100+ families, HSP will continue to distribute to other waiting list families until next Wednesday.

Thank you to everyone who made this Christmas Offering a success, as it would not be possible without our wonderful donors and the hard work of our volunteers! 

Senior Christmas Gift Distribution

Today is another exciting day at HSP as our volunteers will be delivering Christmas gifts to the 133 seniors enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project. Throughout the day volunteers will becoming in and picking up gifts and delivering them straight to the senior’s homes. These gifts were generously provided by our “Giving Tree” donors. The deserving seniors enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project look forward to receiving these wonderful gifts from their wish lists. We want to thank both the volunteers for delivering these gifts, and all the donors who made this distribution possible. 

Thank You to Three Wonderful Interns

Amanda

This week HSP is bidding farewell to three wonderful members of our intern team who have completed their internships. These three; Amanda Harding, Lakeena Kupoluyi, and Taylor Barnes have been part of the HSP team since the beginning of fall. Each of them has used their talents and skills to help HSP serve the deserving seniors, children, and families enrolled in our programs. We wish to thank them for all they have contributed to HSP and wish them well as they move on to new chapters in their lives and careers!

Taylor

Lakeena

Another Successful Christmas Distribution

Today HSP’s Christmas Offering continued as we distribute gifts and holiday groceries to

another 140+ low-income families. Christmas is a time of love and giving, and we at HSP are extremely grateful to have gracious volunteers and donors help us make a difference in the lives of deserving families. We had a number of volunteers lend a hand in order to help distribute today, including groups from KinderCare, Vistex, The DuPage Unitarian Society, Young Men’s Service League, National Charity League, and a number of other individual volunteers and longtime friends of HSP. HSP would like to thank everyone who helped make our distribution a success.

Christmas Offering Distribution

Volunteers from Downers Grove South Key Club
with some of the gifts distributed on Saturday. 

Saturday was a big day for HSP, as we distributed gifts and groceries to 150 of the low-income families served by our Christmas Offering. Each family received over 200 lbs. of groceries which included; fresh produce, frozen meat, bread, non-perishables, and a turkey for a holiday meal. Every child in these families also received a minimum of three Christmas gifts. There were over 60 volunteers who helped us serve these deserving families. We want to thank them all for making the day a success.

HSP’s Christmas Offering marches on this week. Today, we are distributing to low-income students at Army Trail Elementary school in Addison, and tomorrow we will be distributing to another 140 or so families directly from our Center. We wish to extend a huge thank you to all the volunteers and donors who have made this possible!

Let's Get Started!

The Christmas Offering has officially begun! Today, HSP will be distributing Christmas gifts to all the 500+ children at Currier Elementary. Additionally, tomorrow we will have 150 families picking up over 200 lbs. of groceries each, along with gifts for their children.

            HSP wishes to thank all the wonderful volunteers who helped us prepare for this event today, including groups from the Kiwanis Club of Oak Brook, KinderCare, and UPS Supply Chain Solutions, as well as many individual volunteers and longtime friends. The Christmas Offering would not be possible without their generous support! 

Good Night. Sleep Tight

HSP received a wonderful donation of 100+ “Good Night Sleep Tight” bundles from a project run by two young women, Ana Powell and Connie Linardos. These bundles include a book, a pair of pajamas, and either a blanket for older children or a stuffed animal for younger kids. This is the 3rd year in a row HSP has received many of these kits. Ana and Connie run the program by going out to community friends and family members for donations in order to make the bundles. These packages will help many children in need have comfy nights as the weather gets colder. We at HSP and the children and families we serve are extremely grateful for the generosity of Ana and Connie.

Beginning of Christmas Gift Distribution

A group of volunteers from Westin Hotels

A group of volunteers from Kindercare

This week, HSP will begin distributing Christmas gifts along with groceries to the deserving children and families served by our Christmas Offering. With the amount of gifts and food leaving our center for those who need it most, it has taken the assistance of many wonderful volunteers to keep us on track. So far this week we have had a number of great groups lend their assistance, including those from: LaForce, Insight, St. Alphonsus Church, Westin Hotels, Kindercare, Clarke Mosquito, and the Roselle Lions Club.  We have also welcomed many individual and regular volunteers who have given us much of their time to help make our Christmas Offering possible. We would like to thank everyone for their support!

Thank you to our Food and Toy Drive Donors

Over the past few weeks HSP has received a number of generous food and toy donations for the sake of the children, families, and seniors we serve. We wanted to take this opportunity to recognize a few of them and extend our appreciation to all those who have participated.  On Saturday we received a drop off from Glenbard South High School’s National Honors Society. They canvassed their neighborhoods with flyers asking for non-perishable food donations, and spent Saturday morning going door to door picking up donations. They ended up with 5 carloads of food. These wonderful students gave their time and energy to make sure needy families will not go without food this Christmas season.

Yesterday, HSP had a visit from “Team NM”, an employee volunteer group from Northwestern Medicine. They organized a toy drive for the children and families we serve; associates from Northwestern Medicine offices and locations from all over the area donated toys.  This group of volunteers dropped off a full van of toys and gift cards. We at HSP wish to thank all of our gracious donors for giving their time and support. 

Thanks to our "Boxing Party" Volunteers

We would like to thank all of the volunteers who came out to help us at our “Boxing Party” on Saturday. During the three hour event, the volunteers helped us prepare gifts for the first 230+ families we will serve this Christmas. The volunteers also diligently ensured that all of the children will receive a minimum of three gifts. The first distribution days for Christmas are coming up this week, and it would not be possible without the support of all the wonderful volunteers.

Busy Bees Today!

HSP is very busy today! “Giving Tree” gifts for both our seniors and children are due today, and both our monthly Senior Delivery Day and our Christmas “Boxing Party” for the families are tomorrow. 

In addition, we have several volunteer groups with us today, helping us deal with the hustle and bustle. These groups include Kia Motors, ENC Corporation, Chubb Insurance, and The Rotary Club of Bloomingdale and Roselle. Along with these groups, we also have a number of longtime individual volunteers to assist us during this busy time of year.

 

Toys from Accurate Personnel

Yesterday evening HSP received a very generous donation from Accurate Personnel in Carol Stream. The wonderful associates at Accurate donated a huge truck full of toys for the needy children we will be serving this Christmas. Accurate Personnel has been a huge supporter of HSP for years, annually participating in our Christmas Offering since 2008. We cannot thank them enough for all the kindness and generosity they have shown us throughout the years. We greatly appreciate their continued support! 

Giving Tuesday

Today is “Giving Tuesday” a day in which people throughout the world give to charitable organizations near and dear to them. Today our friends at Network for Good are running a partial matching campaign to increase the impact of Giving Tuesday. For every $25 donated they will make a $1 donation to HSP. Please consider donating to help HSP serve families in need through our Christmas Offering. If you are interested please go to: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/hsp.