Fill The Batmobile With Toys For Worth Township Christmas Cares

WORTH TOWNSHIP, IL — Santa will get some help this holiday season hauling all those toys for good girls and boys from the Oak Lawn Batmobile. Patch is organizing a toy drive for Worth Township Youth Commission’s Christmas Cares program from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. We’ll be filling the Batmobile with toys for local families that can use some assistance filling empty stockings.

Oak Lawn-resident Tom Repetny has generously offered his personal Batmobile for the toy drive that will be parked on his driveway at 9817 S. 51st St. Bring an unwrapped toy for a child aged 0-14 and take all the pictures you want of yourself and your kids with the Batmobile.

Repetny purchased a replica of the Batmobile featured in the first Batman reboot from 1989 starring Michael Keaton. When he's not out fighting crime, Repetny rents out the Batmobile and uses it for charity events.

The bulletproof Batmobile has a V8 engine and weighs 5,000 pounds. The inside is tricked out with secret switches and all the special effects from the movie, including a smart bomb, laser cannon and lie detector machine.

Worth Township Youth Commission director Sue Sortino says demand for help from families facing financial difficulties has been high this holiday season. Especially needed are more gifts for kids in the 10 to 14 age range.

All donated toys will be distributed to local youngsters residing within Worth Township, including the communities of Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Alsip, Blue Island, Palos Heights, Chicago Ridge, Worth, Crestwood, Merrionette Park, Bridgeview, Hometown and Robbins.

Can’t make it this Saturday? You can drop off unwrapped toys off at Worth Township, 11601 S. Pulaski Road (116th Street and Pulaski), Alsip, during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or donations off when you visit Santa.

If you’re out Christmas shopping for a child in the 10 to 14 age range, consider buying a duplicate item and donating it to Worth Township’s Christmas Cares program. Suggested gifts include gift cards, craft and art kits, slippers, throws, sports team apparel, sleepwear, winter wear, personal hygiene products (shaving kits, hair supplies, makeup sets, etc.), board games, headphones/earbuds, fashion jewelry and sports gear (basketball sets, footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, etc.).