Christmas Magic is set to ripple throughout Lemont for year #18

UPDATE 12/21/22:

Due to the forecasted nasty driving weather we must change the time of the Christmas Care Bag Sorting and Creating Outreach.
The time will be 2:30-4:30pm Thursday Dec. 22nd in the Old Quarry Small Gyms not the 3:30-5:30 as was scheduled.

We are sorry for the change but after watching every forecast we have to error on the side of caution and safety for all of our drivers who will be joining us, young drivers and no so young drivers.

If you can only join us from 3:30-4:30 please know you are still wanted and needed! We might be shorthanded due to the weather and change of time so come on by!

Christmas Dinners have NOT be changed. We need your food, we need your help and we need your delivery assistance on Christmas Day. It will be cold but we will be making some heat by making ripples!
Christmas Day Schedule:

Food Drop Off 11:30-1:30
Christmas Dinner Needs: Drop off offerings of cooked food, side dishes (packaged in a 4-person serving container please) & desserts to Old Quarry Middle School (16100 W. 127th St., Lemont, IL).

Food Sorting and Dinner Creating 1:30-3pm

Deliveries 3-5pm

The Hope and Friendship Christmas Outreach is held at Old Quarry Middle School- East side of the school.

Thank you for helping us not fall short of bringing this gift to so many who are so very appreciative of this blessing!

Wishing you peace,

Terri

terri@hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com

For the past few days I have been trying to keep up with the phone calls, text messages, and emails. All are very excited anticipating either participating or receiving, or some will do both!!!

We have a few days left to rally donations for our Christmas Care Bags. This is a bag of basic needs that we deliver along with the cooked dinner on Christmas Day. The bag contains items that every house needs but that some homes struggle financially to keep on hand: personal care items, cleaning supplies and paper products. I've attached the flyer for reference and details. There is a bin in the entryway of Old Quarry Middle School and all items can be dropped off there until Thursday Dec. 22nd. We will be gathering in the small gyms on Thursday Dec 22nd from 3:30-5:30pm sorting donations and then creating the Christmas Care Bags.

On Christmas Day it appears that the frozen tundra of the north will visit our corner of the world. I have been blessed to live in this amazing corner of the world that no matter what the weather I have friends who will show up no matter what to help make this Christmas Miracle possible. The outdoor team led by my friend Bill Thompson will need your warm prayers and I will most likely need to serve up a few hot chocolates as well! My kitchen team will be counting and portioning the meat donations and breaking down any large portions to make sure that every Christmas Dinner is purposely and perfectly packed for the number of friends who will be receiving it. My sorting and dinner box creating team will be ready to spread out the bounty of foods that we receive and then carefully pack up each box with just enough meat, potatoes, side, salads and of course desserts. Then my delivery team will show up with smiles on their faces and heat in their cars (hopefully!!!) ready to go wherever asked and deliver the gift of love that has been prepared for those here within our arm's reach. All of this is possible because every single donation, every single person, every single request for a dinner is vital and valued. Your donations of food, of time, of funds, of prayers for all of those who are working and receiving make this the most magical day of the year. I thank you for offering what you can as you are able to allow us to have offered this gift for the 18th straight year.

Our seniors, our struggling homes, our heartbroken friends, our friends who are struggling with illness, death, or loss, all will be graced with this unconditional gift delivered to their door with no cost, no condition, no expectations...simply because we can and we care.

During one of my phone calls to our seniors this week, she was asking if she could reserve a Christmas Dinner, and "if it wasn't too much to ask could it be for 3". She explained that the past couple of years she has been thrilled to invite her daughters over and join us for Christmas Dinner. She gets the table all prepared and set and looks forward to the spread that will arrive. She said her daughters do so much for her all year and this is one thing that has been a blessing for her to share with them. Isn't that just the coolest? She couldn't prepare this dinner herself and we give her the gift of the dinner that she is so thrilled to share with her daughters.
I was at two wakes this week. Both families have been offered Christmas Dinner. Could you imagine trying to pull together a "festive" meal when your heart is broken?
I met with the family of one of our friends who had passed a few months ago. They are really struggling right now. I have them signed up for a Christmas Dinner.
This is what we do.
We collectively work together to provide the food, we proportionately prepare a full box of food (meat, sides, salads, desserts) and we deliver to the door of a friend here within our arm's reach. No judgement on where the house is or who lives in it, because we know that we don't always know what someone is going through. But I do (at least in regards to our deliveries) and that is why I am humbled that you trust me with your most delicious food, time, and effort to prepare, provide and deliver.

Every Christmas night for the past 17 years I have stood outside and soaked in the beauty and magic of what we have accomplished sharing what we have as we are able. I may not stand outside as long this year, but I guarantee you I will stand outside and give thanks for being blessed to be in the presence of such amazing walking angels who care to be light and love for neighbors they may never meet but whom they care to be a Christmas miracle for.

This my friends is what the love and light of Christmas is about, putting hope in the heart of a friend.
Thank you for being that friend who allows us to give to you, or who gives to make it all possible.

Sign up link to assist on Dec 22 and/or Dec 25: https://signup.com/go/zOdTozE

Care Bag Donations Drop off Deadline: Thur. Dec. 22nd noon to Old Quarry Middle School front entrance- drop off to the left at the red bin.

Cooked Food Drop Off: 11:30-1:30pm Christmas Day @ Old Quarry Middle School- East Side door

Christmas Dinner Sorting & Creating: 1:30-3pm in the Old Quarry small gyms (if you are volunteering and offering food just bring the food with you at 1:30pm)

Dinner and Care Bag Deliveries: beginning at 3pm at Old Quarry- follow directives to line up in the east parking lot

Wishing you the peace, love and beauty of Christmas miracle throughout this entire corner of the world,
Terri

Terri O’Neill-Borders

Email- terri@hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com

Website- www.hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com

Wordpress- http://hopeandfriendshipfoundation.wordpress.com/

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Hope and Friendship Foundation
721 Hickory St, Lemont, IL 60439
630-816-4972

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 31: 8-9