Christmas Giving Opportunities in Will County
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Catholic Charities’ Daybreak Center is a homeless shelter that serves low income individuals and families in the Will County area. We provide housing and emergency shelter for men, women, and children coming from all religious and ethnic backgrounds. We are available for those in need 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, offering individual guidance, three daily meals, and educational and employment classes.
This Christmas season, we have many ways for you to share your blessings with those in need in our community:
Adopt a Family (or individual)
This program matches our needy clients with donors. Donors can advise what size of family they feel they can assist, and are then provided with the ages and genders of each family member along with their wish list. If interested in this program, please complete the “Adopter Commitment Form” (link below) and return it no later than 11/16/17, to Marianne Melcher at mmelcher@cc-doj.org . Any questions? Call Marianne at 815-774-4663 ext. 3137. Christmas Adoption Form Will County
Provide items from our Daybreak Center Wish List
Please see the Daybreak Center Christmas Wish List 2017 for a list of greatly needed items at our shelter and to distribute to the poor in our community. These donations can be brought to our Giving Tree donation center (3016 S. State St. in Lockport) on the following days and times:
Mondays & Fridays: 9am- noon
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: 9am – 3pm
Please contact Mechelle Horvat at mhorvat@cc-doj.org or 815-714-2674, with any questions regarding your wish list donation.
Host a holiday party at Daybreak Center
Especially at the holidays, we welcome groups to host an afternoon holiday party at Daybreak Center with (for example) crafts, games, karaoke, delicious snacks, etc. Please see our party hosting flyer below for more information on hosting these parties. To schedule a party, contact Marianne Melcher at mmelcher@cc-doj.org or call 815-774-4663, ext. 3137. Daybreak Center Party Hosting Flyer
Bring a group to Christmas Carol
We have a small area in the front of the dining room that can accommodate a very small group and a larger space in the rear of the dining room for larger groups to Christmas carol during the holiday meals. Our meal times are as follows:
Lunch is served daily from 11:30am-12:30pm. We request your group has completed set up by 11:20 am.
Dinner is served daily from 7:00pm-8:00pm. Please be ready to perform at 7:00 pm.
Monetary/Gift card donation
Your monetary donations will support our general Christmas needs which may be used to purchase holiday food baskets and gift cards for clients in need. If you choose to donate gift cards, please purchase them in $5-10 increments to allow us to most easily distribute them fairly among the clients. If interested in this wonderful opportunity, drop off your donation or mail it to: Catholic Charities Daybreak Center 611 E. Cass, Joliet, IL 60432, attention: Marianne Melcher. All checks should be made payable to “Catholic Charities Daybreak” Any questions? Please contact Marianne Melcher at mmelcher@cc-doj.org or call 815-774-4663, ext. 3137.
Host a Coat Drive
Our Head Start Early Education Program assists children ages 6 weeks – 4 years old, and many of them need warm coats, hats, gloves, and scarves this winter season. We are also greatly in need of larger size coats for both men and women, sizes XL and larger for our shelter and community clients. We are requesting NEW hats, gloves, and scarves, but will accept very gently used coats. If you are interested in hosting a coat drive, please contact me prior to doing so at mmelcher@cc-doj.org . Coat Drive Will County Information
Donate NEW toys
Please consider hosting a drive or make a general toy donation for NEW toys for our children. For the holidays, please only donate new, unused toys/games. Please deliver all donations to our Giving Tree Donation Center in Lockport on Mondays or Fridays between 9am-noon, or Tuesday through Thursday between 9am – 3pm. Please contact Mechelle Horvat at mhorvat@cc-doj.org or 815-714-2674, with any questions regarding your wrapping paper donation.
Collect donations for holiday meals
The Jewel store located at 1401 W. Jefferson Street has graciously “adopted” Daybreak to be recipients of Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners purchased with money they will be collecting at each of their cash registers from generous shoppers. These dinners will be distributed to Catholic Charities’ clients in need. Jewel is welcoming us to have volunteers sit inside their store at a table, and collect additional funds. Can you assist, or do you have a child in need of service hours that would like to assist with this project? (A responsible adult is required to accompany any minor while collecting.) Please email mmelcher@cc-doj.org regarding your availability to collect.
The holidays are the perfect time for all of us to join efforts to help those in need, so thank you so very much for remembering our clients this Christmas. If the gifts collected should ever exceed our Christmas need, your donation will benefit Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet, through direct client support, or revenue generated through the Catholic Charities e-bay Giving Works throughout the year.
God bless you and your family this upcoming holiday season, and I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible!
Posted by Maggie Snow on Thursday, November 16th, 2017 @ 5:35AM
Categories: Holidays
Tags: christmas, donations, Will County
