With holiday donations are down in Niles Township – and other areas, some organizations have reported – a holiday gift card drive has been extended, giving wouldbe donors until almost Christmas Eve to help spread holiday cheer to others in need.
A total of $75,000 is being sought to help some Niles Township children, officials say.
Township Supervisor Bonnie Kahn Ognisanti told Pioneer Press the original Dec. 16 deadline for monetary donations for the Holiday Gift Card Drive was extended to Dec. 23.
“Donations are just down, food expenses are up and we are seeing more people use our food pantry,” she said. “We did extend the deadline hoping we would be able to get a little more money.”
Ognisanti explained that the township will dip into its reserves to offset what is not donated to cover purchasing 1,000 $75 gift cards for parents and guardians – of families already registered with the food pantry – so they may buy gifts for their children.
“I encourage people to donate to our Holiday Gift Card Drive in order to help every child that is in our township have a happy holiday, so they can experience the joy of opening a present,” she said.
Another benefit of the drive, Ognisanti said, is relieving some mental and financial stresses that increase for families during the holiday season.
According to the Niles Township website, the food pantry, at 8341 Lockwood Ave. in Skokie, provides items at no cost to low-income residents of the township. Niles Township includes the villages of Skokie, Lincolnwood and Golf, and sections of Morton Grove, Niles and Glenview.
“This is a season of giving,” said Ognisanti, who added that the food pantry is closer to helping 6,000 individuals monthly at this time of year and always seeks donations of food, toiletries, and such infant and small children items as baby formula and diapers.
Officials explained that donations may be made online, and writing “2024 holiday drive” in the notes line. Checks payable to the Niles Township Food Pantry Foundation, with “2024 holiday drive” written on the notes line, may be sent to or dropped off at 5255 Lincoln Ave. in Skokie.
“(The drive) increases our sense of joy and also our sense of community and belonging to each other,” Ognisanti said.
Towns including Niles, Park Ridge, Morton Grove and Norridge have also been involved in giving efforts this holiday season.
Niles officials have encouraged residents to shop locally and enter the “Home for the Holidays Raffle” by bringing in receipts showing purchases made at village businesses from Nov. 29 to Dec. 23. For every $50 spent, residents receive one entry for one of five $100 gift cards to a Niles business. The drawing is set for Jan. 28.
Park Ridge officials have also encouraged support for local small businesses with its “Holiday Bingo” effort running from Dec. 15 to Jan. 31. Cards may be downloaded via the city’s website, marked by taking a photo at a business location or providing receipts of purchases and submitted to enter a raffle for a $150 gift card to a local business.
According to the website for the 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s “Toys for Tots” Chicago campaign, which includes Cook County, toys dropped off at participating sites from Dec. 8 to Dec. 15 were set for distribution to families in need Dec. 19 to Dec. 21.
The Morton Grove Police Department participated in the Toys for Tots drive, accepting donations through Dec. 13 at several village locations. The Firefighters Association of Morton Grove held its holiday food drive and collected monetary donations through Dec. 13 to purchase holiday meals for families in need.
Norridge Village Hall and the Norridge Police Department were official Toys for Tots drop-off locations through Dec. 8. Also, the village participated in the Salvation Army’s “Angel Tree” program and collected gifts for children in need at Village Hall through Dec. Monday. The village accepts donations of nonperishable food for the Salvation Army year-round.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.
