U-46 families get holiday donations

Several area families, organizations and businesses are contributing to bringing some holiday cheer to dozens of Elgin Area School District U-46 students and families in need, officials said.

Jenny and Tyler Diciolla, owners of Lifeline Plumbing in Elgin, donated more than 40 turkeys for Thanksgiving to U-46 families.

“We thought when we went into business that the more money we’d make, the money we could have to help other people and do things for the community,” Jenny Diciolla said.

The Wisdom Family Foundation of Elgin this week donated $5,000 to U-46’s homeless education program, called Project Access, to cover the cost of students’ emergency transportation, field trips, and more.

“We feel it’s really important to keep the (homeless) students involved and engaged in their home school. We feel like it’s something that maybe it’s forgotten often,” said Kristi Wisdom, managing director of the foundation.

Families from the Bartlett area also contributed to Project Access, including the Grosam, Kirkby, Smith and Czyz families, U-46 spokesman Patrick Mogge said.

Wells Fargo Bank in Elgin will “adopt” 10 students for Christmas by providing them with clothes, toys and other items on their wish lists; Elgin’s Meijer will donate 75 backpacks for students who don’t have one, Mogge said.

“Many of our homeless students don’t know where they are going to sleep from one night to the next, so these donations will certainly give them a little extra holiday cheer,” Maggie Schroeder, U-46 homeless liaison/project access coordinator, said in a news release.

“U-46 is fortunate to have so many wonderful business partners who — without ever being asked — graciously give to help students in need,” Superintendent José Torres said.