All I wanted for Christmas was a brand spanking new camera. Last year I took so many photos of the process behind our work, and I posted it all right here. This past year, my old camera bit the dust. I dropped it just one too many times. Thankfully, Santa and my family helped me out here.
After Christmas I made a point to visit places that had helped us. We had left penny jars at Mr. Chop Suey, Pappas Restaurant in Alsip, Korbakes Liquors, El Ranchito, T&G, Guisseppes, City Hall, Flowers by Bartles and Blue Island Video. And we picked up canned food drives from several schools, including Kerr Middle, Veteran Memorial Middle, Eisenhower High School and Paul Revere Intermediate School. We also collected food from Paul Revere Primary, Hale Middle and St. Rita High School.
There is a photo taken of the Veteran's Memorial Middle School Student Council. First the students collected their Halloween candy as part of a wellness program initiated by the school. The candy was donated to An Angel's Touch. The school won a bronze award for their efforts. The Student Council also initiated a preschool toy drive. Again they donated the proceeds to us. The candy and the toys were taken to the CEDA School located in the old First Lutheran School Building. We also brought them hats, scarves and mittens.
Also pictured is the Salvation Army. Besides the families we help each year, we also help several organizations stock their pantries. One is the Salvation Army. Another is St. Benedict's.
Also pictured above are collectable dolls donated by Shelby Germany. Ms. Germany dropped them off at City Hall. Once the clerks saw them, they posed them about a small Christmas tree and Santa figure. Ms. Germany asked that we please pass them on to little girls who would cherish them as much as she did. We did.
