Sponsorships for the Center for Civic Engagement’s (CCE) annual Holiday Helper program are now open. For over a decade, Illinois State University students, faculty, and staff have participated in the Holiday Helper program, providing holiday gifts for hundreds of local children in the community.
CCE works directly with community partner organizations to identify local families and get the names, ages, wants, and needs of children. University students, faculty, and staff can then sponsor a child through CCE’s online system. Sponsors usually spend between $60-$75 on each child. Gifts should be dropped off at CCE by November 17.
This year, the Center is pleased to partner with six community organizations: the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington Normal, Unity Community Center, Lifelong Access, Western Avenue Community Center, YWCA, and the Center for Youth & Family Solutions.
“We work with these organizations to find children to participate in the Holiday Helper program,” explained Tatum Flores, service programs graduate assistant at CCE. “There is always a large demand for this project, and we can only accommodate a certain number of requests each time. With nearly 360 children participating this year, this is the largest sponsorship goal we have ever had. It is heartwarming to see individuals and groups on campus coming together to make the season brighter.”
Help make a local child’s holiday wishes come true through the Holiday Helper program: Visit the Holiday Helper website for more information and to sponsor a child.
Additional opportunities
The Center for Civic Engagement traditionally hosts a series of wrap and pack parties each year to organize and wrap the donated gifts for each child. This year, a large wrap and pack event is scheduled to take place at the Bone Student Center on November 28.
Another way of getting involved with Holiday Helper is by volunteering to staff a holiday party. Many of the gifts collected through the program are distributed at parties hosted by the center at several local partner organizations. Find more information and learn all the ways you can make an impact on the Holiday Helper page.
