Page 59 - December 2018

little warmth goes a long way in the th istrict
■ BY ERIKA WURST
A coat — during a typical Chicago winter, it’s one of the most
basic essentials and yet many residents are forced to go without. Thanks to officers in the 11th District, more than 80 people had that need met last year during the district’s first coat drive. And officers hope to smash that record this year by getting even
more community members bundled up for the winter.
“This is a really low-income district,” said CAPS Officer Yesse- nia Rodriguez. “Giving them coats, hats, gloves — it makes them feel good. Giving to the community helps us, too. It helps our
self-esteem.”
The drive, which kicks off Dec. 18, aims to collect as many
winter garments as possible. They’ll filter in through boxes at the State’s Attorney’s Office, Community Justice Center and lo- cal alderman’s office as well as the station. Once collected, local nonprofit agencies will be invited to pick up items for their or- ganizations.
The jackets will be passed out in January, right around the time CAPS Officer Theresa McBeth will be starting a shoe drive. Her work as a CAPS officer, she said, is never done.
In fact, to that end, the 11th District recently provided full Thanksgiving meals to 50 local families. Turkey, macaroni and cheese, beans, corn, yams, cranberries and cornbread filled boxes to the brim before they were taken home to be cooked.
The project came together when McBeth got in touch with an administrator at Holy Family Elementary School, James Humphries, who runs the organization JusHelp.org along with his mother. Together, the two groups joined forces to collect pounds and pounds of food.
“I love Mr. Humphries,” McBeth said. “Every time I have an idea, he’s right on board with it. Even before we announced the coat drive, he called me up, asking if we needed coats.”
As a former youth officer, McBeth said it’s important to stay involved with the community and its children by working with the schools. It’s because of where McBeth came from that she’s where she is today.
“I grew up in the 11th District,” she said. “I’ve watched it grow. I just want to give back to the community that gave to me.”
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