From the Holiday Light Celebration to the Symphony Holiday Concert, holiday festivities are rampant in Evanston throughout the winter months. However, apart from the holiday fun, many find themselves at soup kitchens or shopping for clothing to donate.
This time of year is commonly seen as a time to reflect and share blessings with others. Evanston certainly embraces this mindset, providing many opportunities to channel energy into helping others.
“This is a time where people who don’t have as much might feel especially vulnerable. It’s important to make sure that everybody feels included during the holiday season,” said Onyekaorise (Onyeka) Chigbogwu.
Chigbogwu is a Community Service Program Assistant and helps run the ETHS Gift Drive that is primarily organized by a committee of 15 students.
The program runs from Nov. 18 to Dec. 9. It aims to collect items like clothing, toys books and gift cards that will be distributed to seven different partner organizations (all of which are in the Chicagoland area). To purchase gifts for partner organizations, donors receive paper cutout snowmen that include the names of desired items. Some may remember the same system from last year; instead of snowmen, mittens were used. There is also an online option to donate funds.
Last year, 127 items were collected for a total of three organizations. Chigbogwu is raising the bar for this year’s turnout with a goal of collecting 396 items for the seven various organizations. He remains optimistic that all 396 items will be gathered this year.
“A major goal of the Community Service Office is to work with organizations that are geographically close. We also wanted to work with more organizations than we did last year,” he said.
Chigbogwu believes that the organizations’ proximity to ETHS is vital in fostering connection and encouraging student engagement in community service. He emphasizes that community service expertise is not needed in order to participate in the ETHS Gift Drive.
“It’s so lovely to get involved in making a difference in your community. This is such a cheerful time of the year, and so it’s the perfect time to jump into community service even if you’ve never done it before,” said Chigbogwu.
Chigbogwu is passionate about his work with the ETHS Gift Drive, partly due to his own experiences. He understands how the compassion of others can go a long way.
“When I was a kid, I remember that there were years where I didn’t get anything for Christmas. There were also years where something like [the ETHS Gift Drive] meant that I did get something for Christmas,” he said.
He is impressed by the support and enthusiasm among students who care about the cause. There are items on the list that are affordable, ensuring that students have an opportunity to contribute.
“There are a lot of smaller items that organizations are requesting, like toothbrushes which are only a dollar or two,” he said.
At the end of the day, Chigbogwu understands that the ETHS Gift Drive is special because it engages a unique audience.
“[ETHS] takes up such a big space in our community, so it’s important that we also contribute to it. There aren’t many other institutions that even have the capacity to do something as [extensive as the ETHS Gift Drive],” said Chigbogwu.
He encourages ETHS students to value the part they play in the Evanston community and take advantage of the opportunities provided to them through the ETHS Community Service Office.
“This [event] is just a testament to how even just an ETHS student, especially when we cooperate and work together, can make a change in the community,” he said.
Of course, Chigbogwu notes that there is always an opportunity to engage. Once the ETHS Gift Drive concludes, he hopes to see students back in the Community Service Office.
This is certainly the case for sophomore Chiara Murillo who is on the Food Access Committee and the ETHS Gift Drive Committee within ETHS Community Service.
“Giving back during the holiday season in specific can be appealing to a lot of people. I just hope that after volunteering during the holidays, they want to come back in January,” said Murillo.
While the ETHS Gift Drive is on her mind this holiday season, Murillo is confident that she will be focused on several other events in the upcoming year. The satisfaction of the work keeps her coming back for more.
“It’s refreshing to know that someone else is going to have a better day because of your help,” she said.
Murillo is also aware of how people may downplay students’ abilities to make meaningful contributions to their communities. She firmly believes that age does not play a role in determining who can positively impact others.
“You’re never too young to start doing good things,” she said.
Similar to Murillo, Humanities Teacher Kathryn O’Briant is no amateur when it comes to volunteering.
“One [organization] that I really love is called Exodus World Service. They work with refugee families. I’ve also partnered with Chicagoland Prison Outreach which is a great organization that supports family members of incarcerated individuals,” she said.
The holidays are a special time for O’Briant, and she understands why people feel inclined to give back during this time.
“I think that the holidays remind people of what really matters in life. They can slow down and think about the year and what they love. For many, that’s family, friends and community.”
O’Briant believes that it is important to donate when possible. She says that one person’s actions can have a profound impact on the people being served.
“The things that I have are able to bless someone else,” she said.
Outside of school, there are various organizations and programs that facilitate opportunities to give back. The Mayor’s Holiday Food, Book and Toy Drive collects items from Nov. 1 through Dec. 9. Donors can drop off non-perishable food and unopened books and toys at any of the 17 locations in Evanston.
In 2023, 400 families in Evanston benefited from the Mayor’s Holiday Food, Book and Toy Drive. Thanks to the support of Evanston citizens, this drive makes a significant difference for many in the community. Evanston fire departments, police stations and libraries are lending a hand in collecting donations to make the holidays memorable for Evanston residents.
The Salvation Army is another option to consider for those wishing to support others during this time. One of their many holiday initiatives, Angel Tree, runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 11. It enables donors to purchase gifts for families who cannot afford them for their children at Christmas.
Natalie Austin, Corps Officer for the Salvation Army in Evanston, recognizes that families often experience financial difficulties around the holidays. She realizes that most families prioritize paying bills or ensuring that food is on the table. The smaller things, like toys for their children, can be forgotten or dismissed.
“During Christmastime, families often have hard decisions to make. Even in the world and country we live in today, things cost a lot of money,” said Austin.
The Angel Tree program in Evanston gave Christmas gifts to around 300 kids last year, and Austin eagerly anticipates this year’s turnout. She expects that around 360-400 kids will receive gifts from the Salvation Army this holiday season.
Austin often communicates with parents to understand their requests for specific items, allowing her to know a bit about each child receiving a gift from the program.
“My favorite part is when the toys come in and we see items we know match what parents have asked for. [It’s nice to know] that the children will love the gifts they receive,” Austin said.
The work she and other volunteers put in to make the program easily accessible and straightforward for families yields positive results each year.
“Parents can still see smiles on their kids’ faces. They can [be satisfied with the fact] that they gave their children a little bit of joy during Christmas,” said Austin.
The opportunities to volunteer and donate are endless, but engaging in such activities during the holidays can especially nurture a sense of togetherness like no other time of year. It is an ideal time to appreciate the blessings in life, acknowledging that not everyone enjoys the same privileges or experiences joy during the winter months.
Individuals have the power to show up through outlets like the ETHS Gift Drive, The Mayor’s Holiday Food, Book and Toy Drive and the Angel Tree Program. Many Evanston residents, including ETHS students, teachers and staff, are certainly doing just that.
