Mayor O'Dekirk, City Staff Bring Christmas Cheer To Needy

JOLIET, IL - On Saturday morning, Joliet's 176 West banquet hall was quite the happening place as city officials loaded 100 grocery bags of Christmas meals into cars and sent them on their way. Besides a large ham, loaves of fresh bread and several canned goods, the recipients got a $50 Target gift card. The event, in its second year, is spearheaded by Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk.

Veteran Joliet Police Officer Joe Clement was also on hand Saturday helping coordinate the event at 176 West. Several Joliet businesses raised more than $10,500 to donate to Saturday's gift-giving event to help people and families who are less fortunate this Christmas holiday season.

Some gift baskets were being delivered to cancer patients and to military veterans, Clement said. Others went to families who are out of work.

Joliet's Interim City Manager Marty Shanahan volunteered to make one of the longest deliveries of the morning. That particular gift bag was for a Mokena resident who is battling cancer.

Joliet Police Chief Al Roechner as well as Joliet Police Officer Mike DeVito were both on hand helping load and distribute the Christmas gift bags.

Clement said about 90 percent of the recipients were for people in Joliet, but some deliveries were also going to Shorewood and Crest Hill.

"I wish we could do a thousand of these," Clement told Joliet Patch. "It was Bob's idea, and we just said, yeah, we're going to run with it. I just hope we bring some joy, let them know we care."

Joliet Patch accompanied city of Joliet deputy liquor commissioner Jim Greenan, pictured at the top of this article, as he made two gift basket deliveries in Crest Hill. One went to an elderly woman who lives alone. The other went to a young family who is currently out of work, and they have a small child.

Greenan told Patch he participated in last year's inaugural event and found it rewarding. "They lose it when they found out that they get a $50 gift card," he recalled.

"It just touches you when you see how much they are in need of stuff, people who've lost jobs."

All Images via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor except the bottom group photo which was provided to Patch with permission to use.