Spirit of the season: Drug court clients help kids, and a toy drive under way
URBANA — The 60 or so clients of the Champaign County drug court program will be helping people less fortunate this holiday season.
Drug court coordinator Del Ryan said instead of exchanging gifts among themselves, the clients have agreed to bring gifts for the children who live at Restoration Urban Ministries, 1213 Parkland Court, in northwest Champaign.
Ryan said this is the first year the clients have done something like this. The donations will be made at a holiday potluck planned for them at the Urbana Civic Center on Dec. 12 following their weekly appearance in drug court.
Toy drive begins
CHAMPAIGN — The Verizon Wireless store at 910 W. Town Center Boulevard, C, is accepting new toys until Dec. 11 for the children of domestic violence victims.
The "Hope for the Holidays Toy Drive" will benefit domestic violence agencies throughout Illinois, including Sojourner Shelter and Services Inc. in Springfield.
Donated gifts may include items such as coloring books, crayons, board games, cars, trucks, dolls, action figures, stuffed animals, arts and crafts kits and G-rated DVDs. All donations must be new but unwrapped.
Spirit of the Season will be published again on Monday, Dec. 12, and Monday, Dec. 19. To submit a news item about a holiday-related charity, please send an email to news@news-gazette.com or mail a press release to Spirit of the Season, c/o The News-Gazette, P.O. Box 677, Champaign, IL 61824-0677.
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