Daily Herald opinion: Suburban residents show support for local charities
Just in time for the start of the holiday season, a pair of stories over the weekend reminded us about the power of giving and the importance of supporting local nonprofit groups that help people in need.
Our Rick West reported on Saturday about the arrival of Giving Machines at Fox Valley Mall in Aurora. The special vending machines allow people to donate specific items or services to six local charities and two national organizations simply by pushing a few buttons and swiping a card.
Meanwhile, senior writer Katlyn Smith wrote about how Bensenville rallied to help a community food pantry.
The Bensenville situation started when the village learned that the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Holiday Train would not be coming to town on a national tour.
In previous years, the holiday train made annual stops in Bensenville to raise awareness about local hunger and support the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry.
Canadian Pacific would donate money, and people coming to see the train would drop off items to help stock the pantry.
The change in the holiday train schedule could have dealt a severe financial blow to the food pantry.
So village officials asked residents to support the pantry and donate items and money.
As a result of the fundraising efforts, the village presented a check for $16,762 to the pantry during a Christmas tree lighting celebration on Sunday.
“I want to just tell everybody how proud I am of the community, that I know that they will step up at any time we need it,” Village President Frank DeSimone told Smith.
Indeed, the village came together to make something special happen.
For the rest of us, there still is plenty of time to donate to a charity — even as we shop for gifts at a local mall.
First introduced in 2017 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Giving Machines have allowed more than 2.2 million people to donate over $33 million in a unique and fun way.
This year, three of the machines are at Fox Valley Mall through Dec. 3.
Lazarus House is one of the local charities people could help through the machines. The St. Charles-based organization provides shelter, food, and other support services.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to raise money in a nontraditional way, especially around the holidays,” Julie Purcell, the executive director of Lazarus House, told West.
Other local charities benefiting from the machines are Bernie's Book Bank, Little Friends, Loaves & Fishes, Phil's Friends and Watt's of Love.
They and many other suburban organizations are poised to do inspiring work this holiday season. However, they cannot do it without the generous support of donors.
Please consider donating to a charity you like.