Arlington Heights church aids needy families
Chicago nonprofit Bethel New Life is getting help from Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights and 10 other churches in operating a Christmas store Saturday, Dec. 18, and Monday, Dec. 20, to sell affordably-priced new toys and gifts to families in need on Chicago's West Side.
The Bethel Christmas Store will sell more than 3,000 new gifts to families in Bethel's programs this holiday season. All gifts will be priced at roughly 75 percent off retail for $1, $5, or $10.
“This year, we are launching the Christmas Store to sell toys and gifts not give them away to our hardworking families. We want to give families a chance to choose gifts for their children and a chance to contribute at a level they can afford,” said Sara Spoonheim, Bethel New Life's Senior Director of Resource Development. “This takes our beloved 28-year-old program where generous families in Chicagoland adopted our families for Christmas and bought them gifts in a whole new direction.”
The store will be open to 500 preregistered families, who can use cash or credit they have earned during the fall. Families can earn credit by completing a financial literacy course, taking a healthy cooking class, or having perfect attendance at the mentoring program, among many others. Any proceeds raised through the store will benefit Bethel's work with youth.
People interested in helping should contact Sara Spoonheim at sspoonheim@bethelnewlife.org, or call (773) 473-7870, ext. 146.