Dear Editor;

As always, we are continually amazed and gratified at your generosity and compassion for the unfortunate families of Plainfield School District 202. Our 2012 Needy Family Drive was able to assist 32 District 202 families with each family receiving a multitude of gifts for every family member and plentiful food baskets.

In fact, you went above and beyond in supplying their needs and wishes. We can honestly report that each family was overwhelmed with emotional gratitude, which left some speechless but just as many thanking us profusely over and over again. This miracle could never have happened without each and every one of you! Thank you so much for bringing the spirit, the gladness and the warmth of Christmas to them.

Once again, we had many groups "adopt" families; many of whom took on two or more families. We would like to publicly recognize and thank those groups. A heartfelt thank you to the following:

Women of the Plainfield Moose, C.W. Avery Family YMCA members and staff, Walker's Grove and Lincoln Elementary School teachers, staff, parents and student council, Ira Jones and Indian Trail Middle School teachers, staff and parent teacher organizations, PHS-CC teachers, staff and student council, PHS-CC Alumni and Friends, Followers of Christ Lutheran Church congregation, Best Buy of Joliet, First Midwest Bank, Dreyer Medical Clinic, Bill Jacobs of Plainfield, and First Community Bank employees, Abri Credit Union, the students and parents of Little Dames and Gents Preschool, and the Gierich, Bollinger, Nomura, Ozbolt, Rock, Melendez, Stephens, and Leonard families.

Additionally, Lakewood Falls and Central Elementary Schools conducted highly successful food drives to provide food baskets which were augmented by frozen turkeys donated by the community and stored by the Plainfield Moose. Northern Illinois Steel and Pioneer Lanes have been longtime contributors of large cash donations.

The Plainfield Moose Lodge #2491 invited its members to donate to a toy and cash drive and the Needy Family Drive was the grateful recipient of many of those donations. Four teachers at PHS-CC; Mr. Darren Kobliska, Mr. Matthew Clark, Mr. Jonathan Pereiro and Mr. Patrick Hanley, challenged their classes to a donation drive. Together they raised over $1,300 in cash donations and an additional $6,100 in clothing donations.

To all the individuals who make it part of their holiday tradition to send in cash donations, please know that we could not succeed without your continued support. And, to those individuals to whom we sent a frantic plea for help at the last minute, you are saints on earth.

And, finally, an enormous hug to our special angel, Audrey Stein, who keeps us on the straight and narrow.

Karen Hamilton and Linda Hanley

2012 PHS-CC PTSO Needy Family Drive Committee