Page 60 - December 2018

Adversity won’t stop 22nd District from collecting toys for kids
■ BY ERIKA WURST
This year, CAPS officers in the 22nd District might have had
a hiccup in terms of toy donations, but that doesn’t mean the Underprivileged Youth Snowman’s Ball Luncheon won’t go on as planned.
Now in its fourth year, the event brings together 10 families for an afternoon of fun, food, entertainment and holiday cheer. The catered luncheon, held at the 22nd District’s headquarters, also ensures that guests leave with not only a full belly but toys and trinkets they otherwise couldn’t afford.
Unfortunately, that plan seemed to go awry this Christmas season when the district’s usual toy distributor pulled its dona- tion. It’s likely that the toys were sent to California to help wild- fire victims or some other disaster area with families in need. Wherever the gifts went, they didn’t end up at the 22nd District.
Undeterred, CAPS officers instead solicited toys and dona- tions from local churches, fellow officers and the community to keep this holiday bright for local youngsters. “Normally, our toy box [in the lobby] is just filled and filled. We have to empty it every day,” CAPS Officer Carressa Northcross lamented.
That said, her office is rallying together to make sure that the event goes on as planned. And it’s not just toys the group is col- lecting. While many districts simply pass out toys, the 22nd is mixing things up by providing families with toiletries, cleaning products, detergents, jackets, school uniforms and anything else they might need. They’ll get toothbrushes along with bas- ketballs, and each mom will receive a gift of her own.
“They walk away with not only toys, but essentials they need for their home. A lot of people don’t give that stuff away and those needs fall through the cracks,” Northcross said. “It’s hard to buy toys when you don’t have the basic necessities.”
Each beat officer in the district is asked to contact a local school and obtain the name of a family in need. They’ll spend the afternoon of Dec. 15 feasting with their families, officers, lo- cal pastors, school officials and aldermen.
“We’re hoping that this is their first encounter with police, and we want to show them a positive engagement,” Northcross said. “We want them to say that they went to this luncheon and got toys, and that their mom got a nice gift, too. We really want to build these relationships.”
60 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ DECEMBER 2018