Community becomes Santa to save Rotary's children's party

After learning no gifts were available to give to needy children scheduled to attend a local Christmas party, area residents and businesses responsed with a massive three-day outpouring of support to save the event.

The Fox Lake-Round Lake Area Rotary Club officials announced Friday its annual George Watson Memorial Christmas Party has collected about 1,000 toys and enough monetary donations to bring Christmas to 500 area children Sunday.

"I can't believe we actually hit the amount we needed," said Grant Township Supervisor Kay Starostovic, president of the rotary. "It's really a huge relief for us. We were definitely sweating it."

The group learned Monday an expected 1,000-toy delivery had been canceled due to a policy change within the Toys for Tots organization. The Toys for Tots local chapter decided earlier this year it would no longer donate toys to area organizations for Christmas parties, and instead, would donate toys directly to needy families requesting help.

When the Rotary Club alerted the community to its plight the following morning, officials said they had only had 30 gifts on hand.

But thanks to the generosity of people from as far away as Cincinnati, the group reached its gift goal, Starostovic said.

"There were people who grabbed wrapped presents for their own children and brought them to us, saying they can go out again and buy new ones," she said. "The outpouring of support to help us has been amazing."

Among the heroes, Starostovic said, was Baxter International in Deerfield and Round Lake after employees and the company donated more than 300 toys to the party.

"Not only did they donate the money, but they sent 10 people out to the stores to buy the toys and then drove all those toys here," she said. "But, there are many stories like that, where people or companies dug deep to make sure these children had something for Christmas."

Children attending the party Sunday at noon also receive underwear, winter hats, scarves and mittens, boots, school supplies and a hot meal.

And, now, they will be allowed to enter a room filled with toys and pick one to take home.

"This is truly amazing," Starostovic said, "I believe in Santa Claus again."

Though toy donations are no longer being accepted, anyone wishing to donate to the Rotary can drop off money at the Grant Township building at 26725 W. Molidor Road, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., or call Starostovic at (847) 740-2233.