Thanks to generous donations and support from the public, over 525 children received gifts, food and clothing during the holiday season through Western Illinois Regional Council’s (WIRC) Project Santa program. WIRC officials say the program’s success was due to toy and coat drives, fundraisers, monetary donations, donations of blankets and winter wear, sponsors, and people donating their time to shop for and sort gifts.
“We are blown away by the amazing generosity from the community,” said WIRC Project Santa Coordinator Jamie Roth. “There are so many hardworking parents in our area that are struggling financially, and we are grateful that community members are willing to help them with seeing the joy on their children’s faces when they open gifts. On behalf of WIRC, thank you to everyone who helped these families through the agency.”
WIRC’s Project Santa program has been helping income-eligible parents in Hancock, Henderson, McDonough, and Warren counties in Illinois since 1983. Monetary donations made directly to Project Santa added up to over $42,000, which was sorely needed to help children in the program. In 2022, the agency spent around $100 on toys and clothing for each child. Through a grant provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the agency was also able to provide some food to each family. Thanks to coat drives and monetary donations, many children were also able to receive a coat and/or winter wear items like scarves and hats.
Project Santa is a non-religious social service program; people of all faiths are welcome to apply. Project Santa gives the gifts to the parents unwrapped, so the parents can have a direct, hands-on experience in giving gifts to their children based on their own family traditions.
In 2022, WIRC officials say 445 children from 175 households were fully enrolled in the Project Santa program. An additional 81 children from 27 households were assisted in a limited capacity through toy, food and clothing donations.
Project Santa is a massive undertaking both by WIRC team members and volunteers, as it helps hundreds of children across a four-county area each year. Five full days are dedicated only to shopping, and it takes the efforts of many volunteers over several weeks to sort all of the gifts that are purchased. Enrollment for the program typically starts in late-September, and the gifts are distributed to the families in mid-December.
WIRC helps people and communities in western Illinois. To learn more about their services and programs, call their office at 309-837-2997, find them on social media, or visit their website at wirpc.org. WIRC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.