Number of needy folks burgeoning this holiday season

With all the holiday hustle, it's easy to forget that many folks are struggling this year just to put food on the table and provide a few Christmas treats for their children.

Over at the Grafton Township Food Pantry, they're hustling to refill shelves that have been depleted since Thanksgiving, as the need grows and contributions decline. The nonprofit agency serves around 100 local families year-round, providing daily necessities like boxed or canned foods, personal grooming items, cleaning supplies, and paper goods.

"It's a very tough time for so many, (the need) is like we've never seen before," said spokeswoman Harriet Ford. "There is always a shortage of diapers, baby wipes, condiments, cooking oil and baking items, and this year we even have trouble getting meat."

The pantry usually does not accept perishable items, Ford said, but this holiday season they would welcome meat, chicken, or hot dogs that are wrapped, frozen, and not out-of-date.

"We can't get meat from the (regional) food bank anymore, so we're really short on that," she said.

For $15, donors may sponsor a holiday dinner for needy family, complete with turkey and all the trimmings, she added. Also needed are gift cards from supermarkets and discount stores.

"At Christmas, we try to give a gift card to every family," Ford explained. "It's a matter of dignity. They can use it to supplement the food or buy a few extras for the holidays, like a gift for their child."

Those wanting to help can send a check or gift card to the Grafton Township Food Pantry at 10109 Vine Street, Huntley, IL 60142. You can also volunteer some of your time to help stock the shelves or assist people who visit the pantry.

For those who like to shop, "we don't really have an 'angel tree,' but we can give out a (unnamed) profile of a family, and they can provide gifts for them," Ford said.

To donate or volunteer, call (847) 669-8500 or e-mail: food_pantry@graftontownship.us.

Be an angel: The year, the Salvation Army is working with several other agencies and local churches to make sure that everyone who needs help receives it this Christmas.

"We do a 'clearinghouse' to make sure we don't have duplication," said Major John Price. "Especially for the children's sake, we want to make sure that every family gets something. (Donors) can adopt a family by calling our office, or we also have 'Angel Trees' throughout the area."

Area businesses host the trees with "wish tags" that people can choose to shop for. This year's Angel Trees are located at Dominicks and Athletico on Randall Road in Lake In The Hills; at West Elementary School, the Crystal Ice House, Precision Twist Drill, and the Wal-Mart on Route 31 in Crystal Lake; at Cardinal Fitness in Cary, PepsiCo in Barrington, Fifth Third Bank in McHenry, and Education Resources in Elgin.

The Salvation Army toy distribution center in Crystal Lake also will start taking in donations next week.

"For those that are not 'adopted out,' we have a toy store where parents can pick out toys for their children," Price said.

In Huntley, Salvation Army bellringers are helping outside local stores, but more ringers and donations are needed. Bellringers may be individuals, families, groups or clubs. To volunteer or to donate, call (815) 455-2769.

"Monetarily, we're fairly good, but we've got a long way to reach our goal of $175,000," Price said. "We're lagging behind this year, and I'm really kind of worried about that."

Giving Trees grow at Spring Hill: Again this year, Spring Hill Mall in Dundee is hosting "Giving Trees" for shoppers to help those in need.

"We have three trees on display in the Macy's wing, with 15 agencies participating," said administrative assistant Melissa Narish. "Last year, there were 11 or 12 agencies. This year, there are about 2,000 tags on the tree."

At Spring Hill, "people just take a tag off the tree, purchase the gift, then bring it in to the mall office and the agencies pick it up," she said. The deadline to drop off gifts is Dec. 23.

Toys For Tots needs your help: You'll find Toys For Tots donation bins at several local businesses, says Marine Corps League coordinator Lee Totman. Two Toys For Tots benefits are planned tomorrow: Kim's Black Belt Academy on Ruth Road will host "Breakfast with Santa," 9-11 a.m., with free admission for each donated toy, and Santa will be at KB Toys in the Prime Outlets mall from noon - 4 p.m., when shoppers get 50 percent off Toys for Tots purchases. Cash and checks are also welcome, Totman says. Call him at (847) 515-8875.

Holiday reminders: The Huntley Park District's Remembrance Tree Ceremony and Santa Party will start at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Cosman Center on Mill Street. Santa arrives at 11:30 a.m. and admission is free; call (847) 669-3180 for details.

Santa will also visit the Huntley library's Holiday Open House, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. next Friday, Dec. 19. Free snacks, stories, games, and musical entertainment are promised. Drawings will also be held for the Friends of the Huntley Library holiday basket raffle.

This month, the library is collecting new or gently used "warm fuzzies" - hats, mittens, scarves, coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, socks, pajamas, slippers, blankets - for families in need. Donated items will be distributed through Turning Point, The Sparrow's Nest, and the Blessing Barn.

Choo-choose a little holiday cheer: Take the kids, the grandkids - or just yourself - out to see the holiday train display that the Sun City Model Railroad Club has built again this year in the lobby of the Prairie Lodge on Del Webb Boulevard.

The multitiered snowy "mountain" of running trains and tiny villages will be operating through Dec. 30, from 2-5 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on weekends, and club members will be on hand to talk trains with you.

Entertaining gifts: Again this year, the Huntley Rotary Club is selling 2008-09 Entertainment Books, containing dozens of discounts at area stores, salons, restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, and more. The coupon books are $20 each, they fit easily into a stocking, they're good until Nov. 1, 2009 and they benefit a good cause. What more could you ask? Contact Chad Binger at (847) 515-2655, chadbinger@msn.com or Pat Jagman at (847) 669-3333, pjagman@mchenrysavings.com.

For the visually impaired: Motivational speaker, attorney, and "super-volunteer" John R. Corneille will appear in Huntley on Monday, Dec. 15 from 10-11 a.m. at Drendel Hall, located inside the Prairie Lodge on Del Webb Boulevard, in a free program is hosted by the Visually Impaired Support and Assistance Group (V.I.S.A.), a Sun City networking group for the visually impaired. The event is free and open to the public.

Corneille, a well-known attorney who specializes in family law and elder issues, is a veteran volunteer with the Foundation Fighting Blindness and chairman of the 2009 Chicago Vision Walk, set for June 14 at Soldier Field. He will share his own story of vision loss and speak about his volunteer work with this national organization, which offers networking and adaptive strategies for the visually impaired and also funds research in retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration.

For more information, contact Nancy Turngren, Sun City Wellness Center manager, at (847) 515-2078, or Jerry Darlington of the Sun City Lions Club at (224) 569-6191.