ISU Students to Host Parties for Local Agencies

About 100 students operating through Illinois State University's Dean of Students Office will host holiday parties Saturday, Dec. 6, for more than 220 local children at four Bloomington-Normal social service agencies.

The Holiday Helper program, which has been in existence at Illinois State for more than 10 years, will host parties at the Boys and Girls Club, Western Avenue Community Center, Catholic Charities and Unity Community Center, complete with crafts, activities and gifts.  Those local organizations provided names of 223 local children who are in need.  Each ISU student "adopted" a child and purchased a gift from their "needs and wants" list.  Funds for the gifts are provided by Illinois State students, faculty and staff.

The gifts, none of which exceeds $40 in value, will be presented at the end of each party.  The parties will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Boys and Girls Club, 1615 Illinois St., Bloomington; noon to 2 p.m. at the Unity Community Center, 632 Orlando, Normal; 1 to 3 p.m. at Catholic Charities, 711 N. Main, Bloomington (basement of Holy Trinity Church); and 2 to 4 p.m. at the Western Avenue Community Center, 601 N. Western, Bloomington.

The number of local children served this year is a dramatic increase over the 150 youngsters receiving presents last year.

Information on the program is available from Harriett Steinbach, Community Service Specialist in the Dean of Students Office, Leadership & Service Unit, at 438-7346.