PHD Christmas party puts sparkles in kids' eyes

Helping families with young children drives supporters of The Society for the Preservation of Human Dignity, or PHD, in Palatine.

Consequently, its Christmas party every year turns out to be quite a bash.

That was the case Saturday, when more than 1,000 clients -- and 800 children -- were the guests of honor at the party held at St. Edna's Catholic Church in Arlington Heights.

Organizers needed three seatings just to handle the massive crowd, and each one was more heartwarming than the next.

Children found a variety of crafts to do, from having their faces painted to making special Christmas gifts for loved ones, while entire families enjoyed a holiday lunch together, before posing for photos with Santa.

There was even live musical entertainment. Members of the Barrington High School Madrigal Singers and the Lake Zurich High School Blue Notes provided seasonal holiday music, while Mumm the Clown added his own wacky brand of humor.

Meantime, back in another room, elves worked quietly to sort out the heaping piles of toys and presents.

"We've been collecting them all year," said Linda Feo, PHD staff member. "It's so heartwarming, because they're all donated."

Instead of handing the presents to the children, volunteers gave parents a black bag filled with two -- unwrapped -- presents for each of their children, chosen specifically for them.

"That way parents have toys to wrap and put under the tree for their children," Feo added. "These are families who are really struggling to make ends meet, so many of them just can't afford to buy Christmas presents."

PHD is a nonprofit counseling center offering help and education to underserved women and their families. From its baby lending closet to its integrated support services, the agency has been serving Northwest suburban residents for more than 35 years.