Toys Needed: Donations Accepted At Alicia's House

When Juan and Stella Hernandez wake up every morning, they are thinking of one thing: how to help others.

On Jan. 14, 2001, when their granddaughter Alicia Diaz was killed in a tragic accident at the age of 4, they wanted to keep her memory alive.

Due to little Alicia always helping out grandma Stella at a food pantry, Alicia’s House was born.

This year and for the past several years, Juan, Stella, Milt Pappas and hundreds of volunteers make the holidays a little more brighter for families in the south suburban area. This year the need is just as great.

“I don’t know what the greatest need is, I just know we’re looking to fill those needs,” Juan Hernandez said. “ If anyone in the community can donate one toy, a hundred or a thousand toys, it will help.”

There are two events Hernandez has organized in December. One is a Christmas party for special needs kids the other is children who would not have Christmas without Alicia’s House. They get their lists from organizations and schools on who can use the help. “I constantly see the needs growing,” Hernandez said.

This year Alicia’s House is hoping to collect stockings, candy, five hundred new toys for 12 and under, two tablets, Two Xboxes, two digital cameras and two portable DVD’s.

“I can remember when we used to go out and deliver everything,” Hernandez said. “We walked up to this house, knocked on the door. Everybody was carrying gifts and stockings, I had groceries in my arms. A young boy about 11 started screaming, everyone’s thinking he was excited about the toys. ‘Mom, mom‘ he said, ‘We’ve got food.’“

Recently Juan was at Alicia’s House checking amounts of candy he needs, for the Christmas parties. His plan is to fill 1500 Christmas stockings packed with candy. “Our stockings are filled to the brim,” said Hernandez. “It’s quite a good feeling to see the sparkle in their eyes.”

In September Alicia’s House held their largest annual fundraiser for the year, at Lincolnshire Country Club in Crete. Actor Scott L. Schwartz, retired Cubs Pitcher Milt Pappas and radio personality Jim Renzetti were on hand to raise funds to keep Alicia’s House going.

“The dinner went well despite the golf part of it being rained out,” Hernandez said. Auction items and donations help support feeding area hungry residents.

On Friday, Dec. 18, Hernandez, his wife Stella and several volunteers will host a Christmas party for about 100 special needs kids and their families. “ Columbia School of Steger has been gracious to let us use their cafeteria for the party. We’re blessed to be able to help as many kids as we can,” Hernandez added.

The next day on Saturday, Dec. 19 , several volunteers will pass out food and toys to make sure families going through hard times will have a Christmas.

If your church, school or scout troop can help Alicia’s House this Christmas season, they are taking donations of non-perishables such as mac and cheese, tuna, pasta, canned vegetables, peanut butter and jelly and much more. They are also looking for new toys and candy donations.

“Alicia loved Christmas, we still miss her, ”Hernandez said. “Whenever a tragedy happens, you feel like you’re never going to recover. I’ve been a fighter all my life, that’s how I made my living. I knew her death was not going to beat me. We fought back and here we have Alicia’s House.”

To drop off food or holiday donations, contact Juan or Stella at 708-946-3002 or go online at www.aliciashouse.org or you can mail in a donation to Alicia’s House P.O. Box 1232 Beecher Il. 60401. The pantry is open on Tuesdays from 9a.m. to 11a.m. They are located at 17 Paulsen Avenue in South Chicago Heights. They serve residents of Steger, Monee, Peotone, Crete, Beecher, University Park and South Chicago Heights.