Plainfield Needy Family Drive Making Holidays Bright for the 20th Year

Editor's note: The following is a press release issued by District 202:

The Plainfield High School-Central Campus Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) is collecting monetary donations for its 20th annual Christmas drive for needy District 202-area families.

The PHSCC PTSO will use the money received to provide Christmas dinner and buy individual gifts for needy District 202 families. Last year the PTSO helped more than 30 families in the District 202 community.

“No matter what else is happening, there are always needy families in our community,” said Linda Hanley, the coordinator of the Christmas drive. “We do our best to help everyone that we can.” 

The PTSO helps as many families as are identified, and has never turned away anyone in need. Families are identified through school staff and social workers throughout the district. Families who believe they are eligible to be adopted should contact their school’s social workers. 

Each family’s wish list is assigned a number to ensure the identities of the families remain strictly confidential.

Monetary donations can be made payable to the PTSO Needy Family Drive and mailed to Plainfield High School-Central Campus, 24120 West Fort Beggs Drive, Plainfield, 60544. Please send monetary donations to the attention of Audrey Stein.

“Our reward is hearing the appreciation from the families, groups and individuals who adopt and help the needy families,” Hanley said. “They get as much out of the act of giving as the families do who receive the gifts.” 

Each year the PTSO works with local businesses, citizens and school organizations to purchase gifts and dinner items for these families. 

The group also collects items throughout the year and asks District 202 parent and school groups to adopt a family, give a monetary donation or hold a canned food drive to help needy families. 

Hanley said many of the District 202 schools will be involved again this year including PHSCC, Lincoln and Walker’s Grove elementary schools and Indian Trail and Ira Jones middle schools.

In addition, several community organizations and individual families also adopt families or make donations each year. This year that list includes C.W. Avery YMCA, Plainfield Women of the Moose, Best Buy of Joliet, First Midwest Bank and Dreyer Medical Clinic. 

This year, the families will receive the food and toys that have been collected and/or purchased one to two weekends prior to Christmas.

To donate money, or adopt a family, please contact Hanley at (815) 439-2670 or hanfam7@comcast.net, or Audrey Stein at (815) 436-3200 or astein@psd202.org.

Hanley said monetary donations are accepted year round, and the PTSO always welcomes individuals, businesses and organizations that are willing to adopt a family.

For those who would like to help, but can't afford to take on gifts for an entire family, Hanley said donors may also opt to "adopt" an individual or children only.

Looking for more ways to give back in Plainfield? 

• : Deadline to donate canned goods to help local food pantries is Nov 18.
• It's Almost Plainfield Turkey Drop Time: This year's annual turkey drop at the Plainfield Moose Lodge is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17.