Elgin group opens 'Christmas Store' again

Everywhere you look, retailers are pushing some type of sale for the holidays.

But what about people who can't afford to shop at the mall, even with great deals abound?

For the second year in a row, the Elgin Christian Development Corporation has this need covered through its "Christmas Store."

Simply put, it's an effort by 11 local churches and volunteers to help families shop for donated - yet, brand new - items at a huge discount.

"We feel that taking a $100 iPod and marking it down to $25 is affordable for a family and keeps their dignity," said

Brian Heinrich, the ECDC executive director. "The families feel like they have empowerment. They are a paying customer."

Last year, seven churches worked to help about 30 families and 100 kids. This year, it's been tripled to 90 families and 300 kids.

Neighborhood families receive an invitation and 30-minute shopping period for the one day the "store" is open, which is Saturday, Dec. 13 this year.

Volunteers watch children while parents shop from gifts collected during a large drive held in November. Organizers work to ensure there are duplicate items so the first shoppers don't snap up all the hot items.

Organizers are set on volunteers, but still need a few more items.

In-kind or tax-deductible monetary donations may be made at the Elgin Community Church, 991 Deborah Ave., Elgin. For more information, call (847) 695-2493.

It's good to be late: Do you procrastinate, like me? Or just plain forgetful?

Well, I'm notorious for not returning items to the library in time. Particularly DVDs.

One time, a DVD was in my player for weeks before I noticed that I returned an empty box to my local library.

So I had a decent fine. Another time, a CD that I checked out slid under a seat in my car, leading to an even heftier fine.

Elgin's Gail Borden Public Library is giving library patrons a chance to help the hungry this coming week with their "Food for Fines" Drive.

Beginning today, Dec. 7 and running through Saturday, Dec. 12, people returning overdue books, CDs, DVDs and other materials may pay late fines in canned food instead of cash.

For every can of nonperishable food brought to the library at 270 N. Grove Ave., $1 in overdue fines will be waived.

Denise Raleigh, the library's director of marketing, said this is the fourth year the library has held this event. The first year netted about 1,000 cans of food and $1,000 in fines were waived. The last two years rendered about 1,400 to 1,500 cans of food.

Raleigh noted that some patrons hold off on paying fines until this week. Some bring food even if they don't owe anything, she added. Library officials have not placed a limit on the number of cans that may be brought in lieu of fines, but they can't be used to repay replacement charges for lost materials.

For more information, call (847) 742-2411.