Holiday Programs 2015
Please note that the agencies and organizations listed first are those that
offer holiday assistance to families in need.
The second part lists the agencies and organizations that need
volunteers and donations (only!).
The Salvation Army – 309-829-9476
The Salvation Army Winter Coat Distribution begins Tuesday, October 13 from 9:00am - 12 Noon.
Coat distribution will run Monday - Thursday, 9am - 12 Noon through December 16, then resume
January 4 - 28.
Clients must present the following documentation:
 a photo ID
 Current piece of mail
 Social Security Card for anyone receiving a coat
Registration for Christmas Assistance through The Salvation Army:
 Thursday, November 5, 9:00am - 4:00pm
 Friday, November 6, 9:00am - 4:00pm
 Saturday, November 7, 11:00am - 6:00pm
Clients must provide the following documentation:
 Photo identification
 Proof of income for the last 30 days
 A current piece of mail for proof of address
 Social Security cards for every person in the household
Please note: A state-issued medical card is sufficient for address and income. A driver's license
does not count as a form of address verification.
Applications for paid bell ringer positions are accepted Fridays only, 9:00am - 12 Noon and 1:00 3:00pm beginning October 9 and concluding October 30. Applications must be completed on site and
cannot be taken from the premises.
Applicants must provide the following:
 State-issued photo ID AND Social Security Card OR Certified Birth Certificate
Questions? Contact Captain DJ James at 309-829-9476, ext 206
WJBC – Brotherhood Tree – 309-829-1221
Families who would like to receive gifts from the Brotherhood Tree must send an e-mail with the names
of the members of their own households only, their age, and gender to: laura@wjbc.com. Requests
must also include a phone number of someone that can be contacted with questions and a street
address (with directions if the home is difficult to find or a rural address. Note that the Brotherhood
Tree cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes). Requests will be accepted through Nov 24th. Gifts will be delivered
on Sat, Dec 19. Someone from the household must be home on this day to accept the gifts. If for some
reason no one will be home, a note directing volunteers to leave the gifts with a neighbor or in some
discreet location must be posted (this is important because, in the past, gifts have been stolen from
porches, etc.) For more information, call the number above or look online www.wjbc.com.
Compassionate Friends - Candlelight Memorial Service
The Annual Candlelight Memorial Service will be held on Sun, Dec 13, 7:00pm, at St. John’s Lutheran
Church, 1617 E. Emerson St., Bloomington. This Memorial is a way to help parents, living with the loss
of a child, get through the holidays. Volunteers are needed to help with the Memorial Service. Contact
Donna McMillan at 309-724-8414 or Linda Zick at 815-692-2829 to volunteer or for further information.
Christmas for Kids Party - Registration by mail or e-mail only!
(For families in need, unemployed, or underemployed)
Children (12 and younger) who are attending the party must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are
required. The party will be held on Saturday, Dec 12, at 10:00am in the Bloomington High School
Cafeteria, 1202 E. Locust Street. To obtain tickets, please write to PO Box 3396, Bloomington IL
61702-3396 or e-mail matejka53@aol.com (no phone calls, please). Include the number of children
attending, your address and phone number. The party is sponsored by Bloomington-Normal Trades &
Labor Assembly and the McLean County Chamber of Commerce.
Eastview Christian Church – “Imagine” Holiday Assistance Program - 309-451-5008
Families in need are invited to receive new coats, toys and pantry boxes from Eastview Christian
Church's holiday assistance program called, "Imagine". Imagine Registration days allow you to lock in
an appointment time to pick up your items on the Distribution Day-Saturday, December 5. At
Registration, we will be able to find out exactly what the needs of your family are and do our best to fill
them. Please bring a photo id and 1 piece of mail that has been sent to your current address to one of
the following sites:
September 28:
September 29:
September 30:
October 1:
October 3:
Grace Baptist Church 6-8:30pm or Western Ave Community Center 6-8:30pm
Jesus House 6-8:30pm or Calvary Baptist Church 6-8:30pm
Jesus House 6-8:30pm or Western Ave Community Center 6-8:30pm
Normal Unity Center 6-8:30pm or Second Presbyterian Church 6-8:30pm
Crosswinds Church 10-Noon or 1-3pm
Appointments for Distribution Day (December 5) are not given out by first come/first served on
Registration Days, so please feel free to register on the day and time that is most convenient for you.
Registration Deadline is October 3rd. Anyone who did not register can come as a walk in on December
5th. Doors open for walk-ins at 10:00am with shopping beginning at 2:00pm. Questions? Contact an
Eastview representative at 309-451-5008 or localoutreach@eastviewcc.org.
For DeWitt County Residents:
DeWitt County Angel Tree Program – 217-935-2455
Now accepting applications from families who are struggling to buy their children gifts for the holiday
season. The program provides children with coats, clothing, shoes and toys if they qualify under state
poverty guidelines. All information provided by applicants is confidential and each child is assigned a
number for identification purposes.
Monthly Household
2 people
3 people
4 people
Maximum Income
$1,659
$2,093
$2,526
Guidelines:
5 people
6 people
7 people
8 people
$2,959
$3,393
$3,826
$4,259
Applicants must be DeWitt Co residents & may sign up by calling the DeWitt County Community Action,
office at 217-935-2455. Applications are accepted by appointment only. Farmer City applicants may
pick up & return their applications to McKinley Water Conditioning at 300 S Main in Farmer City. If
there are any questions, you may contact Lynda Harmon or Erin McKinley at 309-928-3361. Deadline
to turn in the applications are Friday, October 30th at 4:00 pm. Each applicant must provide social
security cards for everyone in the household and proof of income for the past 30 days for everyone in
the household. Angel Tree applicants will be able to pick up their gifts on Friday, December 11th at their
designated time at the Clinton Elks. For information on donating to the Angel Tree Program please call
DeWitt County Community Action.
Home Sweet Home Ministries, Holiday Meal Hotline – 309-828-7356 ext. 241 (your call
will be sent to a voice mail--you’ll hear a beep--leave your message)
Volunteers deliver Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to seniors and individuals with disabilities living
within McLean County. The deadline for requesting a Thanksgiving meal is November 20th. HSHM will
begin to take requests for Christmas Day meals on December 1st. To request a meal, call the number
above with the name, address, phone number, and number of meals needed. The cut-off date for
Christmas meals is December 18th. HSHM’s in-house banquet, served inside the Billy Shelper Center
(303 E. Oakland Avenue, Blm) will be held on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day at 12:30pm. A
smaller meal will be available between 6:00-7:00pm. The in-house meals are open to anyone. For more
information, visit their web site at www.hshministries.org.
For Livingston County Residents:
Salvation Army of Livingston County – 815-844-5005
Livingston County Salvation Army is located at 112 N. Division in Pontiac. The sign-up for Thanksgiving
vouchers will be held in October. You must have a medical card or Link card to qualify. Christmas toy
sign-up will be held in early November. You must also have a medical card, Link card or other proof
that the child is in the home to qualify. Toys and gifts will be given out to children ages newborn
through high school. Christmas distribution dates and times will be assigned. Call for further
information.
The following agencies and organizations are asking for volunteer
help or donations only! PLEASE DO NOT refer clients who are
requesting assistance to these agencies.
WJBC – Brotherhood Tree – 309-829-1221: For donations, only new gifts are accepted and can
be for children or adults. Each gift should be wrapped and marked with age and contents. Checks are
also accepted, along with donations by Paypal (www.wjbc.com). Donations are accepted the day after
Thanksgiving (Nov 29) through Wed, Dec 16. For more information or to volunteer, call 309-829-1221
and ask for Laura or look online at www.wjbc.com.
Book Showers for Literacy – 309-838-8306 or 309-834-9222. Hold a Book Shower at your
organization, club, school, or church to collect NEW children’s books that will become holiday gifts for
underprivileged children. STAR Literacy Program is accepting donations of new children’s books. The
new children’s books will be distributed through the Salvation Army Christmas Clearinghouse and
social service agencies that work with low-income families, the homeless, and children at risk. In
November and December the Children’s Rooms at both Bloomington and Normal Public Libraries and
the Children’s Discovery Museum will accept new book donations. Barnes and Noble Booksellers is
also holding a Book Drive to benefit Book Showers. If your group would like to purchase books
through Barnes and Noble, contact Becky Harris at 309-662-1506. If you would like to make
arrangements to have your book donation picked up or for more information, call Sheila Diaz at 309838-8306 or 309-834-9222.
Children’s Home + Aid – Adopt-A-Family – 309-827-0374: Business groups, families, or
individuals can adopt-a-family for Christmas. Donations of gifts, household items, and money are
appreciated. (This program serves only the families receiving services through Children’s Home + Aid)
Contact Laura Cordero at lcordero@childrenshomeandaid.org or at the number above for more
information.
Toys for Tots – US Marine Corps Reserves – 309-319-1056: New toys are collected and
distributed to needy McLean County children through community holiday assistance programs.
Monetary donations are very much appreciated, as well. Donated toys can be dropped off midNovember through the first part of December at approximately 80 locations throughout the
Bloomington/Normal area. For more information contact toysfortotsmcleancounty@gmail.com or call
the number above.
Children’s Home + Aid – Stuff the Bus – 309-827-0374: Stuff The Bus benefits the Crisis
Nursery. This will be the week of December 1st to the 6th at various locations in Bloomington-Normal.
Baby Items are needed.
The Baby Fold’s 2015 Christmas Wish List Program – 309-451-7202
The Baby Fold needs help from individuals, families, organizations and church groups to fulfill the
wishes of the children they serve, boys and girls who range in age from prenatal babies to 21 years of
age. There are several ways to help:
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Fill a wish list of one or several children by purchasing specific items on their lists (available via email address below)
Purchase a variety of “generic” items that The Baby Fold can use to help a number of
children (brochure available with listed items)
Purchase gift cards for the older children to spend on gifts
Make a monetary gift/donation to assist with last minute purchases of necessary items
Volunteering time in December to help track, inventory, sort, shop for and distribute gifts for nearly
600 children that The Baby Fold provides for in the community.
Gifts can be dropped off beginning Wednesday, December 2nd through Friday, December 11th, 2015
from 11:30am - 6:00pm excluding weekends. The gift drop-off location will be announced at a later
date once the site is confirmed
You may contact: Kate Kirby, Development & Public Relations Assistant @ 309-451-7202 or
kkirby@thebabyfold.org for more information.
Thank you in advance for any help that can be provided. Together we can help MANY children and
families in the area have a wonderful Christmas!
The Pantagraph’s Goodfellow Fund – 309-820- 3256: The Goodfellow Fund works in
cooperation with local social service agencies to assist families in need. Monetary donations from
community residents are what fuel the fund. Please mail donations to: The Pantagraph Goodfellow
Fund, PO Box 1800, Bloomington, IL 61702-1800. Donor names can be listed in The Pantagraph after
Thanksgiving Day. Should you need further information, contact Julie Gerke at the number above.
ISU Leadership and Service Office – Holiday Helper – 309-438-7346: ISU students, faculty,
and staff can be a Holiday Helper for children served by the Boys and Girls Club of
Bloomington/Normal, Catholic Charities, Center for Youth & Family Solutions, Unity Community Center,
and/or Western Avenue Community Center. Contact the Leadership and Service Office Nov 1-Dec 1 to
receive the name, age, and interests of a child to sponsor. Simply spend between $30 and $40 per
child and take the gifts, unwrapped, to the Leadership and Service Unit, Room 206, Bone Student
Center, at the corner of University and College. For further information, call the above number and ask
for the Holiday Helper contact person.
STATE FARM®’S GIVING TREE PROGRAM – Through the Giving Tree, State Farm employees
continue to provide gifts for the less fortunate in our community. Eligible organizations (as defined
below) that are located in McLean County and provide direct services to low-income individuals and
families within the county can apply to participate in this year’s program. The Giving Tree is intended to
provide gifts for low-income families within McLean County.
Eligible organizations meet the following criteria:
1. Tax Supported organizations that are part of the local government;
2. Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations (except those established for religious purposes) under
501 (C) (3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code that are not private foundations under
Section 509 (a) (1), (2), or (3).
To request an application email Bret German at SF Giving Tree Contact.
Completed applications will be accepted via fax or email until 4:00pm, Wednesday, Oct 14th.
Applications will be reviewed and selected organizations will be notified by end-of-day Thursday, Oct
22nd.
If your organization is selected to participate in this year’s Giving Tree program, Gifts will be delivered
to all participating organizations the week of Dec 7th.

Holiday Programs 2015 is compiled and distributed by PATH. If you have any questions or know of a program
that should be listed, please contact Cathy Beck at cbeck@pathcrisis.org or 309-834-0507.
Rev 9/21/15