People's Resource
Center (PRC)
201 Naperville Road
Wheaton, IL 60187
Jeanmarie Walsh,
Share the Spirit
Coordinator
Phone: (630) 682-5402
Fax: (630) 682-5412
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"Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.”
Anthony D’Angelo
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A Letter from Mary Ellen
November 1, 2007
Dear Friend,
This year, as you begin to think about the many ways in which you might reach out to your neighbors in need during the holidays, please consider supporting the People’s Resource Center’s (PRC) Share the Spirit holiday assistance program.
The unique and priceless gift of Share the Spirit is choice. On December 4th, 5th, and 6th, families in need will participate in Share the Spirit by coming to the DuPage County Fairgrounds to select their own brand new toys, household items, and gift certificates. Last year, through the generous hearts of people in our community, PRC was able to purchase and collect enough items to enrich the lives of over 800 DuPage County families in need.
Everything in the Share the Spirit program is a gift from our caring community, from the toys, gifts, and money donated to the actual volunteers who staff the store. And everything in the Share the Spirit store comes from this one letter!
Here’s how you can help:
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Provide Gift Items:
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Deliver brand new toys, gifts or gift certificates to the DuPage County Fairgrounds (not PRC) at 2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton, IL 60187 on December 3, 2007.
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Donate money:
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Please send a check to 201 S. Naperville Road, Wheaton, IL 60187, by December 3, 2007.
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Volunteer:
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To volunteer please call (630) 682-5402 x325 and leave voicemail with your name, phone number, and the best time to reach you. A Share the Spirit volunteer will call you back in November.
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Last year over 19,000 individuals relied on PRC’s support, and almost half of those individuals were children. PRC continues to provide basic needs services of food, clothing and housing assistance, as well as empowerment programs including computer training and access, literacy and English-as-a-Second-Language instruction, job search assistance, and art enrichment.
See our flyer with its list of needed items. Please consider spreading the word and sharing this opportunity to give with family, friends, and co-workers. If you would like to sign up as a volunteer or obtain further information, please call (630) 682-5402 ext. 325.
We need your sharing spirit to help provide a truly special holiday experience for DuPage County families in need this December!
Sincerely,
Mary Ellen Durbin
Executive Director
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Jeanmarie Walsh
Share the Spirit Coordinator
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P.S. Please consider supporting PRC’s holiday assistance program by sharing YOUR spirit and donating money, gift items, gift certificates, and volunteering your time!
The Program
Share the Spirit Program provides assistance to our food pantry families during mid December. The Program's two primary goals are to support our client families in their efforts to celebrate the holidays, and to assist our donors in their efforts to help DuPage County families in need. Share the Spirit provides additional food, toys for the children, gift certificates and general household items gathered from individuals, companies, churches and service clubs. PRC also provides gift certificates from stores such as Target so that families can shop for additional items.
Mary Ellen Durbin and Linda Ebright
Who benefits from the Share the Spirit program?
The people who benefit from Share the Spirit are PRC food pantry clients--they have to have
been a client during the past year-they can't be receiving help from any other programs--we
share our list with other holiday helping programs--we serve people throughout DuPage County,
living on very low incomes--most are working poor, who don't receive assistance from any other
source. We do an assessment with each family to determine eligibility.
How does the program work?
- Each eligible family is given an appointment time, to come to the DuPage County
Fairgrounds on Manchester Road during the week of December 3 - 6.
- The "Share the Spirit Store" is set up with all kinds of new children's items, like toys--according to age groups--along with some small household items, like blankets and
toasters.
- Each family is accompanied by a volunteer personal shopper, who helps them to choose
their items--it's all on a point system, depending on the number in the family.
- In addition to the toys and household items, they receive food and gift certificates to
purchase their holiday meals, and shop for their children.
Mary Hopkins, Lyn Conway, John Ebright, Kathy Diorio and
Jerry D'Souza
Is this a popular program?
It's very successful--the families love the ability to choose, and to receive some certificates to
shop with, and for us, it's great, because we have created a way to help in a fair and equitable way, and
still maintain people's dignity.
How are volunteers involved?
We need volunteers to help at the fairgrounds the week of December 3.
If you would like to help, either by yourself or with a group, please call (630) 682-5402 x325 and leave your name, number, and the best time to reach you. A Share the Spirit committee member will call you in early November to schedule your volunteer date and time.
Jeanmarie Walsh
Please consider being a part of this tremendous opportunity to give to your community:
- Donate money:
Make your check payable to "People’s Resource Center."
Please put your name and address on your check, so we can properly thank you and send you a tax receipt.
Mail your check to "Share the Spirit," 201 S. Naperville Road, Wheaton, IL 60187.
- Drop off gift items/gift certificates:
Purchase items and drop off UNWRAPPED
at DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, in Wheaton, Want a map?
on Monday, December 3, from 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM.
Please be sure that the dollar amount of the certificates appear on them somewhere.
- Volunteers:
Receive donations on December 3 and assist families with shopping December 4, 5, 6.
If you would like to help, call (630) 682-5402 X325 and leave your name and number. A Share the Spirit Committee member will call you in early November.
Needed items (brand new)
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Food Certificates:
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From major chains like Jewel, Dominick's, Aldi's or Ultra of $5, $10, $20, $25*
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Gift Certificates:
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From Target, T,J. Maxx. Kohl's. or Wal-Mart of $5, $10, $20, $25*
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* Please be sure that the dollar amount of the certificate appears on it somewhere.
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Merchandise:
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Household Items:
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Blenders, Casserole Dishes, Coffee Pots, Crock Pots, Small Electric Grills, Rice Steamers, Griddles, Hand Mixers, Dishes (for 4), Flatware (for 4), Pots and Pans
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Kid's Items:
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Books, Games, Children's Videos, Puzzles, Hats, Mittens: for children O-11.
Please, no guns or toys that promote aggressive behavior.
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Toys for ages 0-2
Animated/stuffed toys
Building blocks
Push and pull toys
Toy tool sets
Washable dolls
Wooden puzzles
Toys for ages 8-11
Sports equipment
Legos, electronic games
Housekeeping toys, jewelry sets
Rubber stamp sets
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Toys for ages 3-7
Art sets/tool sets
Cars/trucks
Construction toys (Duplos, Legos)
Dolls/doll accessories
Dress-up clothes/accessories
Games/puzzles
Play Doh sets/workshops
Sports items (plastic baseball sets, roller skates)
Battery operated cars with batteries
Ages 12-18
$20 GIFT CERTIFICATES ONLY!
Suggested stores:
Best Buy, Old Navy, Target,
T.J.Maxx, Marshall's
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Make sure you put your name and address on your donations, so that we can properly thank you, and send you a tax receipt.
Thank you!
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