Catholic Charities is coordinating a Christmas program for low-income families living in DuPage County. Last year more than 800 families were adopted by donor families, groups and companies. Donations of new toys and new clothing are distributed to children, and food certificates are given to families so they may enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner. For information on how to adopt a family, call Catholic Charities at 630-495-8008.
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My Joyful Heart, a non-profit organization that provides hope for at-risk children, needs donations of items such as toothpaste, soap, blankets and clothing. To make a donation, call 815-836-8258 or visit www.myjoyfulheart.org.
First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange’s women’s group is seeking donations of knit or fleece hats for 4- and 5-year-old Head Start preschool children and 2006 calendars for women living at Dwight Correctional Center. Donations can be dropped off at the church, 150 S. Ashland Ave., or call 708-354-0771.
Lake Park High School Thespians will host an improv show to benefit the Hurricane Relief Fund at 7 p.m. Friday in the East Campus Auditorium, 600 S. Medinah Rd. in Roselle. The 90-minute show titled “Improvity ’05–Laughs for Relief” will be formatted similarly to Drew Carey’s television show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Admission is $2 per person. Call 630-295-5313.
Mermax Furniture, 4235 Westbrook Drive in Aurora, is holding a charity sale through Monday with 10 percent of sales going to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina victims. Call 630-820-2224.
Those making a difference
A recent walkathon held by St. Francis High School students, families, teachers and staff raised more than $14,000 for hurricane relief efforts. The funds will benefit Catholic high schools devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
Hurricane donations to the Fox River Chapter of the American Red Cross topped $1.3 million over the last eight weeks, according to Kay Catlin, development director for the chapter. For more information about the Fox River Chapter, call 630-443-8844.
The 2005 Naperville Area Humane Society Gala Dinner Dance raised more than $50,000 for animal and community programs. Participants chose from 80 silent auction packages.
A Muscular Dystrophy Association lockup fundraiser Oct. 19 in Lombard brought in more than $13,000 in donations. The top three bail raisers were Dave Kundrot of the Lombard Police Department, Arnie DeGroot of CSC in Oak Brook and Art Frerichs of Art’s Master Mechanics in Lombard.