Warren Township High School helps needy at Chicago school

Warren Township High School students, staff and community members made the season a bit brighter for about 1,300 needy children in a Chicago public school.

Lloyd Elementary School, a prekindergarten through fifth-grade school in the Englewood area, received presents from Warren through a Letters for Santa program provided by Direct Effect Charities based in Northbrook. The program collects letters from the neediest children in schools where there is a high poverty level and distributes the letters to donors asking that a gift of no more than $25 be purchased, wrapped and delivered.

At Warren, National Honor Society at the Almond Campus and student council members at the O'Plaine Campus spearheaded the effort.

O'Plaine Campus teacher Chrissy Parquette, who advises the student council, said, "The Warren students are so excited to help someone else."

Some of the letters were written by very young children in Spanish, but each student found a way to interpret what the child was writing, she said.

While individuals purchased presents, classes also pooled their resources and purchased gifts requested for in the letters.

Almond Campus teacher Kelda Hutson, who advises National Honor Society, said Direct Effect Charities allows for the giving to occur directly to the recipient.

"It is a good experience for high school-age students to give their own money and have the benefit of knowing they made someone happy," she said.

If $25 is spent on each gift, that is about $35,000 in giving from Warren.

Warren Township High School 2004 graduate Leslie Fitzgerald launched the idea of Warren becoming involved after she and her family started responding to children's letters a few years ago. This is the fourth consecutive year Warren is partnering with Lloyd School in the endeavor.