Rediscovering the meaning in Christmas

When a troubled economy collides with Christmas, the bright message for families cutting back on expensive gifts could be remembering the true meaning of the season.

Religious leaders and others who promote the season's message of love and service hope that this year it will hit home: The holiday is about helping each other, celebrating the lessons of Christ and enjoying time with family and friends, not spending money.

In Elgin, Sam Fallico - whose friends say looks like Santa Claus, round and bearded - seems to have figured it out.

He realized the economy was cutting into participation in a traditional giving tree he had set up at his Elgin restaurant, Big Sammy's Hot Dogs on Randall Road.

So he offered a coupon for a free $15 rib dinner to anyone who brought in something on a wish list for clients of the Larkin Center in Elgin. The agency houses and educates at-risk young people and helps adults with mental illness, said Sharon Prizy, development associate.

Fallico says he gave out 40 meals, and a typical customer might have donated a $20 item in exchange.

"It was real hard this year. You almost have to be in sales," he said. "Christmas is about spending time together and being happy for what you have - family time and quality time."

His approach is one example of what could be a trend - the bitter economy is inspiring people to spread the Christmas spirit.

The Larkin Center, for example, also received extra help this year from teens in the Torch Club operated by the Boys and Girls Club at Ellis Middle School. The group sponsored a skate night to raise money for a project - probably a trip to the National Council of La Raza convention next summer in Chicago.

But when club members, who aren't from wealthy families themselves, heard that items as basic as towels and washcloths were on a wish list for children their own age, they decided to pitch in.

Fourteen-year-old Katie Palomo is one of the club members.

"They don't have money to buy what they actually need, and I thought it would be nice for Christmas to give it to them," she said.

Keavy Dixson, area program director for the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, said the children learned it doesn't take much to help.

"Sometimes they think you have to have a lot of money or be famous," she said, "but they learned that everybody helps to make a difference."

A national campaign called redefine-christmas.org is a favorite of Rex Piercy, pastor of Congregational United Church of Christ in Arlington Heights. The three-year-old project partners with nonprofits to urge donations in honor of loved ones rather than physical tokens.

"Many a pastor has constantly preached that all of that stuff we don't need and buy with money we don't have isn't important and not what Christmas and holiday time are about," said Piercy. "Whether this year people sort of get it might be the silver lining. The message has always been the center of Christmas is the birth of Christ and presence of God in our lives."

Despite national reports that donations to not-for-profits are down while requests for services are up, suburbanites appear to be showing they get the message.

Catholic Charities in the Northwest suburbs has seen more small donations - $10, $15 or $20 - this year, said Glenn Van Cura, regional services representative. However, one man in Schaumburg who asked for anonymity told the agency he wanted to donate $10,000 to help improve the life of an area family with rent and food as well as Christmas gifts.

Even those who feel financially secure themselves notice that others are in trouble and that helping out is more important than exchanging gifts.

Andrea Budasi of Sleepy Hollow, personnel secretary with Palatine-Schaumburg Township High School District 211, remembers what it was like when her husband, who's now retired, frequently got laid off during the holidays when he worked construction. Her family decided this year to buy gifts for their children, but to donate money the adults would have spent on each other.

"We all have more than we need and most of what we want," said Budasi. "It's silly in this economy to be spending money on each other. We don't overdo it on the kids, either, but the little ones like to open their presents. I think hard times definitely make you more aware of what's important."

Her choices include a food pantry and Salvation Army and Wayside Center for homeless and needy people in Elgin.

In Buffalo Grove, Erica Holloway feels her family and friends will appreciate the crafty gifts she is making more than if she bought tokens at a store.

Money is tight for Holloway and her fiance, Mike Pospeshil, because they are planning a wedding next summer and would like to have their own home. Now they are living with Pospeshil's parents.

Holloway decorated free and inexpensive vases, candy dishes and picture frames. One of her methods is crafting mosaics from pieces of a big mirror that broke when the couple took it off a wall during a redecorating project.

"What's nice is that our family and friends appreciate it," said Holloway. "They know that I made it and it comes from the heart, and they appreciate it more than having something bought at a store. Everything is unique."