Thanks to all who helped cut out the tags; distribute the tags; buy the presents; store the presents; sort the presents; wrap the presents; and deliver the presents. It does "take a village" to make this dream a reality.

On behalf of the Outreach Commission, we want to thank all the volunteers who helped make this Christmas a little brighter for about a thousand children!

On behalf of the Outreach Commission, a big THANK YOU to all those who gave so generously and volunteered their time to the Christmas Gift Program this year.

The following is a note from Sister Catherine Marie at Marillac House/Marillac Social Center:

May our own witness in the world be a sign that helps people leave the night and enter the day, walk from their darkness into a new light, lift them from despair and fill them with hope.

Thank you for helping to spread the good news of God’s peace and joy this Christmas season. Your generosity brought joy to 331 families and 1,051 children, 100 more than last year. Due to your continued help, Marillac House was able to “lift clients from despair and fill them with hope.” Thank you! Thank you!

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ fill your heart with the same happiness and hope that you have given so many. Your kindness will be forever remembered in the hearts of the families you have touched this Christmas season.

A BIG Thank You -- To All Who Helped With the 2009 Christmas Gift Program

Thank you to all of our angels who supported the Christmas Gift Program this year. It was a huge success! We were able to provide close to 1,000 gifts to those at Marrillac House, Insight/Highsight, and several needy families in the community. Your generosity was overwhelming and we can’t thank you enough for making Christmas brighter for these children.

Marillac House/Marillac Social Center is a non-profit organization that has focused on strengthening and empowering children and families on Chicago’s west side for 94 years. Focusing on early childhood education, teen mentoring, family support services, and companionship and assistance to the elderly, Marillac is a beacon of hope for the over 3,000 individuals served yearly. We provided unwrapped gifts for their Christmas Gift Store. The mothers who utilize these services provided by the sisters who run Marillac House were able to shop for their children’s gifts. The morning of Saturday, December 19th was magical at Marillac House. Volunteers came together to make this process fun and exciting for the mothers who come to shop.

InSight/HighSight - The children of InSight and the older children of HighSight have an amazing story to tell. They are tutored and mentored by adults who appreciated the value of their education and the doors that were opened to them as a result. Of the 2009 high school graduates in the program, all went on to college. Their younger counterparts in the grade school program InSight can see what the benefits are to getting good grades and working towards the goal of graduation and moving up the educational ladder. We provided gifts to the neediest children this holiday season.

This is what Christmas is all about! Also, thank you to all our volunteers who prepared the gift tags and helped sort the gifts. We could have not done this without you! Many blessings and peace to all in 2010.