Beverly Groups Hosts Holiday Party, Seek Toys For Migrant Children

CHICAGO – The Beverly community will host a Christmas party Saturday, Dec. 23, that includes Santa for asylum seekers who were living outside the Chicago 22nd District Police station for much of the past year.

The party will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at Morgan Park Presbyterian Church, 2017 W. 110th Place. The groups hosting the party are seeking new, unwrapped toys for children up to age 18, so that every child and teen gets something for Christmas.

“Many of our newest neighbors have traveled a long way and have been living in police stations and shelters,” said Tim Noonan of 19th Ward Mutual Aid, one of the sponsoring organizations. “This journey has been very hard on families.”

As many as 200 migrants bused to Chicago were camped out at any one time around the 22nd District police station. Noonan said that 95 percent of the migrants were fleeing from corruption and economic turmoil in Venezuela. They have identified themselves to federal authorities as asylum seekers. The migrants were initially brought to Chicago police stations to decompress, with the promise of jobs.

“The 22nd police station has been emptied and no longer are asylum seekers residing there,” Noonan told Patch. “Yet many who have stayed in our community are in shelters and this party is for them because they are all of our neighbors.”

Many of the families do not have the funds to celebrate Christmas as they hoped they could. This will be their first Christmas away from home and family. Organizes have gathered together to provide a space where children can be children again. In addition to food and refreshments, a bilingual Santa Claus will visit with children and adults, along with helpers and toys for every child. Neighborhood school children have been making Christmas cards to welcome the newest arrivals.

The organizers are expecting 200 children. The children’s Christmas wishes are modest. There are requests for craft and painting kits, bedroom stuff, jewelry, learning toys for babies and toddlers, dancing,basketballs, footballs, gaming, girly stuff, clothes, anything Barbie, Mincecraft, gift cards, remote control cars and trucks, tablets and Sonic the Hedgehog, to name a few.

Mostly, these kids would just like a return to normalcy in 2024 as their parents procure employment and the necessary documents to get jobs so they can have a permanent home and go to school.

Toys can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at Holy Nativity Church, 1917 W. 93rd St, or contact info@aid.com to arrange a pickup or dropoff time. Donated toys can also be dropped off before noon, Dec. 23, at Morgan Park Presbyterian Church, 2017 W. 110th Place.

Sponsoring organizations who’ve been assisting our newest neighbors include Southside KIN (Kids in the Neighborhood), Inspired Guidance, Spanish Community Center, Morgan Park Presbyterian Church, and 19th Ward Mutual Aid.