With Heartfelt Thanks for a Magical 2025 Season

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As we reflect on the 2025 Christmas Baskets Sponsor-A-Family Program, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude.

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Once again, our Christmas Baskets program brought the joy and magic of Christmas to our community. Through the generosity, kindness, and countless hours of service from so many, 179 families and seniors — more than 625 individuals — experienced the warmth, dignity, and happiness of the holiday season. The impact of this program reaches far beyond the gifts themselves, reminding every recipient that they are surrounded by a community that truly cares.

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Each year, we are humbled by what happens when our community comes together in the spirit of giving. What begins as an empty gym is transformed into a space filled with generosity, compassion, and hope — and ultimately into Christmas mornings made brighter for children, parents, and seniors throughout our community.

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A Message from One of Our Recipient Families

“Good morning ☺️ First of all, I thank God for putting in our path people like you who care about the well-being of others and for being empathetic with us. Thank you for having that big heart. Thank you for the details — all of them are beautiful — and my daughter is the happiest! Thank you for your time and effort; it is a great gesture on your part, and we value very much everything you sent us. May God fill you with health, happiness, and prosperity all your life. Have a Merry Christmas 🎄 and a prosperous New Year. Thank you very much for everything! Sincere hugs to you from us 🤗🤗”

 

On behalf of all the children, parents, and seniors whose lives you touched, thank you for making the holidays more joyful.

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With Grateful Thanks To:

 

Family Adopters, our “Santas”

Your thoughtful planning, shopping, and wrapping ensured that each child, parent, and senior felt the magic of the season in a very personal way.

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Unsung Heroes in School Districts 41 & 89
Social workers, student services staff, and family liaisons work tirelessly to identify and communicate with recipient families. Their behind-the-scenes efforts are vital to the success of our mission.

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Super Thursday Volunteers
Your gifts of time and energy transformed an empty gym into a bustling Santa’s workshop filled with gifts, food, toys, toiletries, and other essentials — ensuring every basket was wrapped, organized, packed, and ready for Delivery Day.

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Barone’s Pizza
Thank you for generously delivering multiple pizzas throughout the day to keep our Super Thursday volunteers fueled and energized. Your kindness and support were deeply appreciated during a long and busy day.

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Parkview Community Church
Thank you for the gift of your beautiful space - the perfect location for this whirlwind project year after year.

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Community Partners
Your commitment to our neighbors ensured that food and grocery cards, fresh citrus fruits, toothbrushes, and toothpaste were included in baskets this year. Thank you to our partners for these gifts of health.

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Kiwanis Club • Glen Ellyn Rotary • Glen House Food Pantry • Family Dental Care

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Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Glen Ellyn
Thank you for prioritizing and sharing our toy drive information and helping us reach more members of our community. Your support played an important role in expanding awareness and participation in this year’s program.

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Toy Drive Hosts
You served as our North Pole satellite locations, ensuring every child received a toy. We are deeply grateful to the schools, businesses, and organizations that generously shared their spaces.

Abraham Lincoln Elementary • Parkview Elementary • Churchill Elementary • Arbor View Elementary • Westfield Elementary • Forest Glen Elementary • Glen Ellyn Pediatric Dentistry • Barberia, Inc. • Glen Ellyn Newcomers • The Glen Ellyn Alliance • Main Street Pub • B.R. Ryall YMCA • Glen Ellyn Civic Center • Santa’s House • RE/MAX Suburban • Club Pilates • Reserve 22 • Butterfield Park District • Glen Ellyn Park District (Main Street and Spring Avenue Rec Centers) • Local churches, neighborhoods, and private organizations

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Toiletry Drive Champions
The Glenbard West High School and Glenbard South High School communities came together to donate toiletries for every family and senior — true gifts of comfort and wellness.

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Combined Sales
Year after year, your generous donation of toilet paper provides a practical and meaningful contribution, allowing families to save resources for other needs during the holiday season.

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Delivery Day Angels
The Glen Ellyn Fire Department and community volunteers ensured Christmas Baskets reached families’ doors despite cold weather and busy schedules. Special thanks to the Glenbard South Key Club and Glenbard West Key Club members who cheerfully packed vehicles for a smoother Delivery Day.

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Glen Ellyn Junior Woman’s Club Members
Your dedication, coordination, and willingness to serve brought everything together beautifully. Truly, you are the heart of this program.

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No matter how you helped - through donating, volunteering, organizing, or supporting behind the scenes - your generosity made a meaningful difference. Together, we created moments of joy, comfort, and connection that will be remembered long after the holiday season has passed.

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Thank you for being part of the Christmas Baskets program.

With sincere appreciation,
Lynn Lullo and Dawn Cassata
On behalf of the Glen Ellyn Junior Woman’s Club

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P.S.

We’d love for you to relive the joy and memories captured during the program! Check out the photos in our Christmas Baskets Sponsor-A-Family Program 2025 Google Drive. If you have your own photos, stories, or moments to share, we’d be thrilled to include them.  Feel free to email us at glenellynjuniors@gmail.com or upload them directly to the Drive!