Make a Difference December

by Callie Jo Coats

Last year, Princeville High School’s librarian, Kathy Sullivan, suggested that in December the school and community should help families who are homeless.  Sullivan was motivated by an experience she had while she was visiting her son in Chicago, where she saw a ton of people cuddling together in blankets on the road. It made Sullivan think that under the blankets, adults and children were suffering from the snowy and icy weather.

Sullivan is collecting items for homeless families between November 26th and December 21st because “especially at Christmas time, when everybody is focused on how wonderful everything is supposed to be, [she thinks] that is when things can be really miserable” for some people.

The hope is that people will donate hats, gloves, socks,  blankets, children’s books, personal care items like shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, etc., shaving cream, diapers, and wipes like they did last year. 

After Sullivan collects the donations,  she’ll give those items to the Dream Center in Peoria that serves homeless families.  In order to donate, community members can drop off items at the PHS office during school hours.