Plainfield Central PTSO Collecting Money for Annual Christmas Drive

PLAINFIELD, IL — The Plainfield High School-Central Campus Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) is collecting monetary donations for its 24th annual Christmas drive for needy District 202-area families.

The PHSCC PTSO will use the donations to provide Christmas dinner and buy individual gifts for needy District 202 families. Last year the PTSO helped 32 families in the District 202 community.

“Even though the economy has been slowly improving, there are still needy families in our area,” said Linda Hanley, one of the coordinators of the Christmas drive. “We want to do everything we can to help as many people as possible.”

The PTSO helps as many families as are identified, and has never turned away anyone in need. Families are identified through school staff and social workers throughout the district. Families who believe they are eligible to be adopted should contact their school’s social workers.

Each family’s wish list is assigned a number to ensure the identities of the families remain strictly confidential. Various organizations and families throughout the community “adopt” the families and help to fulfill their wish list. The Needy Family Drive provides some additional gifts and baskets of food.

Monetary donations can be made payable to the PTSO Needy Family Drive and mailed to Plainfield High School-Central Campus, 24120 West Fort Beggs Drive, Plainfield, 60544. Please send monetary donations to the attention of Audrey Stein.

The group also collects items throughout the year and asks District 202 parent and school groups to adopt a family, give a monetary donation or hold a canned food drive to help needy families.

Several District 202 schools will be involved again this year, Hanley said, including Central, Lakewood Falls and Lincoln elementary schools; Ira Jones and Indian Trail middle schools; and PHSCC.

As well, numerous private families and community and service groups have pledged their support including C.W. Avery Family YMCA, Abri Credit Union, Followers of Christ Lutheran Church, Little Dames and Gents Preschool, and the PHSCC Student Council.

To donate money or adopt a family, please contact Hanley at (815) 439-2670 or via e-mail at hanfam7@gmail.com or Audrey Stein at 815-436-3200 or via e-mail at astein@psd202.org.

Submitted by Plainfield School District 202

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