The pandemic forced the cancellation of many of Hephzibah’s usual holiday celebrations and events, but many of our long-time friends and donors stepped-up to make extra sure the holidays were filled with fun for the children and families we serve.
“There was so much hardship this year, it was extra important to celebrate the good things this holiday season,” says Juliet Yera, Hephzibah’s Director of Development. “We are so fortunate to have an incredibly generous community of supporters who embraced the spirit of the season and brought comfort and joy to hundreds of children and families.”
This year was a monumental holiday effort as presents were distributed to more than 500 children across the spectrum of Hephzibah programs.
Dozens of organizations including Astellas, CME Group, Com-Ed, Craig/Stevens Development Corporation, Doody Enterprises, Harlem Irving Plaza, Hu-Friedy, The Peninsula Chicago Hotel, PepsiCo, Remax Group, SEC, SNAP Inc., and more, donated essential funds, toys, gift cards, clothing, and food to fulfill the wish lists of the children.
Donated funds also made it possible for children to enjoy special holiday experiences like a visit to the Morton Arboretum Illumination light display.
The Paramount Group, a long-time Hephzibah partner, took the lead to rally support for all 237 children in our intact family program and provided personalized presents and food for families who are struggling to stabilize.
“Despite the limitations presented by the pandemic, donors were creative and found many meaningful ways to help our children and families directly,” Yera says. “Our donors also honored our direct care staff who are caring 24/7 for the children living in Hephzibah Home ”
Oak Park’s own Geppetto’s Toy Box sponsored a holiday giving campaign with a coupon to benefit Hephzibah with every purchase, as well as a toy drive for customers to purchase gifts both in-store and online for the children living in Hephzibah Home and served through our Family Based Services program.
Community volunteer groups including a Longfellow School Girl Scouts troop, the OPRF High School Huskie Helpers, and the Hephzibah Oak Park and Western Auxiliaries offered support in many creative ways such as decorating the outside of Hephzibah Home, creating luminarias, hosting a virtual trivia night, renting a movie theater for the children to see a movie, and providing New Year’s Eve desserts.
Many groups, families and individuals including members of the Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club, the Carbery Family, Sherri Bjorson Family, JD and Carrie Leman and the Greater Chicago Church, and many others provided Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day meals for children at Hephzibah Home.
In addition, long-time supporters Gene & Georgetti donated and delivered delicious weekly meals for Hephzibah Home – a favorite of both children and staff. (Gene & Georgetti and the Durpetti family will be one of our honorees at this year’s Heart of Gold Ball).
Lou Malnati’s donated 100 Thanksgiving dinner baskets for our intact families, and Hephzibah Family Based Services intern Kate Kennedy and her family-owned farm Timberfeast donated 400 pounds of frozen meat for our intact families.
Lastly, countless individuals like Fenwick high school student Emalee Kamholz, and supporters like Scarlett Camarena Hurtado, Maureen Eckworth, Ashley Gaer, Connor Miller, and Diane Conmy (with her family and grandchildren), held funding campaigns and diaper drives, purchased hundreds of gifts from the wish lists, and purchased winter coats, clothing, and accessories for our children. Many more generous supporters donated anonymously by purchasing gifts through our online wish lists.
“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming generosity and thoughtful spirit our donor partners and the community,” says Merry Beth Sheets, Executive Director. “This overwhelming show of support for the children and families in our care truly made an important difference in their lives; and in a year like no other, it lit up the faces of so many children this holiday season.”