620 Kids In Need Meet Santa, Receive Gifts

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Santa and his elves were on hand in Moraine Township last weekend to greet children and hand out gifts for the holidays for the Annual Phyllis Santullano Holiday Gift Drive. This year's partnership between the township, local schools and community group provided presents to 620 kids.

"Their smiles could light up our city," Santa Claus said on Saturday.

Families facing financial struggle are nominated by school social workers and counselors, then each child in the family is sponsored, according to township officials.

Nominees are then matched anonymously with generous local sponsors from Highland Park and Highwood.

“The donor knows the age, gender, size, grade in school and wish list – but not the name – of a specific child," said Township Clerk Gail Feiger Brown, a co-chairs of the effort.

The donors commit to buying between $50 and $60 on new toys and clothes for each child. Gifts were dropped of between Monday and Wednesday of last week before families came by to pick them up through Saturday.

“When gifts are distributed to the children, the family also receives grocery gift cards to shop for the foods that make their family's holiday celebration special," Feiger Brown said, noting Santa invited kids to pick out new winter clothes, like gloves, scarves and hats.

The township's annual gift drive is named after former Highland Park City Council member Phyllis Santullano, who founded The North Suburban Self-Help Center to help struggling families from all cultures in our community.

According to organizers, Moraine Township’s Annual Holiday Gift Drive helps to keep Santullano's compassionate and generous spirit alive.

» Find out what's needed at the Moraine Township Food Pantry

_{Top photo: Santa meets a child during the 2017 Phyllis Santullano Holiday Gift Drive, Saturday Dec. 9, 2017 | Courtesy Moraine Township}