Volunteers help Marklund residents with gift opening on Christmas Eve

More than 200 volunteers descended upon Marklund's three locations in Geneva, Elgin and Bloomingdale Christmas Eve morning, Dec. 24, to assist the residents there with opening more than 1,000 Christmas gifts that were donated.

Marklund is a nonprofit organization that provides residential, therapeutic and educational services for children and adults with profound developmental disabilities.

Volunteers arrived at the Marklund Hyde Center in Geneva, Marklund Wasmond Center in Elgin and Marklund Philip Center in Bloomingdale at 10 a.m. Christmas Eve morning. Individuals, families, scout troops, friends and family met individually with the 174 residents and assisted them in opening Christmas gifts.

The gifts were donated by hundreds of donors from throughout the Chicago suburban area throughout the month.

While opening presents is fun for everyone, the residents also enjoy being with the volunteers, many of whom have come year after year to attend this event as part of their own family traditions.

"The biggest gift today is the gift of your time and presence," said Frank Murnane, chair of the Marklund board of directors, to the group gathered at the Geneva location.

To learn more about Marklund and how to get involved or make a donation, visit www.marklund.org or www.facebook.com/MarklundCharity.