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Community Corner

Jaycees Holiday Program Helps Families in Need

It's not too late to adopt a family for the Jaycees Share-A-Christmas program.

Families in need will get special attention from Santa this year with a little help from the Crystal Lake Jaycees.

Through its Share-A-Christmas program, 33 Crystal Lake families will have their holiday wish-lists fulfilled by caring community members who adopt a family, shop and gift wrap their items, and deposit them with the Jaycees by Dec. 17 for delivery Dec. 18. Recipients also receive a food voucher to help out with holiday meals.

So far, 24 families have been adopted. Jaycees President Sarah Schrempf hopes others will adopt the remaining nine; but if not the Jaycees will take care of their requests.

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"We had a family drop off gifts thrilled to have the opportunity to shop for their families instead of just making donations," she said. "Some families use this as an example to teach their kids there are other families in need."

This year School District 47 school social workers suggested families that needed assistance this year.

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Canterbury Elementary School social worker Effie Crambes said the school suggested six families for this year's Share-A-Christmas. The school has many children on free and reduced lunch programs, she said.

"We're a pretty needy school in the district," she said. "I think the program is just wonderful. It's so comprehensive and takes care of the needs of all the family - adults and kids included. They welcome all families with open arms. We're lucky to have them in our community during these difficult times."

Selected families create a list of items they needed, often things for their children such as toys or clothing. Many people just dropped into the donation site at the Crystal Lake Plaza and left items and cash donations, Schrempf said. The site is open weekdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for donations. Adopting a family is not required to make a donation.

The undertaking is a huge effort and this year co-chairs Lauren Kaminsky and Blanka Roguljic supervised a committee of 17 people.

"The Jaycees have been helping families for 50 years with the Adopt-A-Family program," Roguljic said. "The Christmas Share program is in its second year."

The Jaycees are a nonprofit organization focusing on volunteerism. It helps adults develop tools they need to be successful in business through working on any variety of community projects.

As with the 50-year-old Adopt-A-Family program, the Share-A-Christmas effort allows donors to decide on how much to donate and the option to shop for recipients. To choose a family for adoption, visit the Jaycees website at http://cljaycees.org/sac to register. A Jaycee member will contact you with specifics such as clothing sizes and particular toys. Cash donations can be made as well to:

Crystal Lake Jaycees
Attn: Share-A-Christmas
P.O. Box 7
Crystal Lake, IL  60039-0007

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