ABOUT THE SECRET SANTA PROGRAM
Each year, the Prairie Trail Federation supports the La Grange Rotary Club’s Secret Santa program to provide a little Christmas cheer for children in our communities who could use a little help. The tribes, members and friends will support roughly one-third of the approximately 900 children (ages 0-17) that are served by this program from Bridgeview, Broadview, Brookfield, Burr Ridge, Countryside, Hickory Hills, Hinsdale, Hodgkins, Justice, Indian Head Park, LaGrange, LaGrange Highlands, LaGrange Park, Lyons, McCook, Summit, Westchester, Western Springs, & Willow Springs. The Prairie Trail Federation has donated clothes, school supplies and presents valued over $35,000 in each of the last several years to improve the holidays for these local kids.
OUR GOAL THIS YEAR
We hope to once again be the Rotary Club’s biggest supporter. Last year, because of your help and generosity, we adopted 275 children, a number we hope to match or even improve upon this year. With your help, we will be able to purchase and deliver a combination of necessary items (clothes and school supplies) as well as some fun gifts (toys and books) for each of the children we adopt.
HOW WE DO IT
The Rotary Club provides us with all the information and materials that we need to do our part. You will be provided with an information sheet for each child (age, size, and hobbies/activities), a checklist of items to purchase, and a few fun ideas for gifts from your Child’s wish list. You will also receive shopping bags to hold the items as well as the Federation’s tax-exempt info. Tribes typically make an event out of Secret Santa with shopping followed by a fun activity. The guides and princesses take the lead on shopping for kids of their own age at Target, Kohls, or Wal-Mart. Following the shopping, the Tribes then plan an activity like bowling or a pizza party. In addition, many members have made adopting a child part of their own family holiday tradition. The cost per adopted child typically ranges from $125 – $150. Our tribes and/or their members fund the amount needed for each adopted child.
HOW YOU CAN DELIVER SOME CHRISTMAS MAGIC
ACTIVE MEMBERS If you are an active member of our Federation, please let your tribal chief know that you would like to participate. Shopping bags with each child’s needs/wish list will be available at our Longhouse meeting on November 7th for pickup before and after the meeting. If you would like to preorder your bags, send an email to SecretSanta@ptfed.org with the number of bags your Tribe would like to adopt and we will have them set aside for you at the meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please email Mike Darcy to arrange to get your Tribe’s bags. There is no correct number of children for a Tribe to adopt. However, a good ratio is for each tribe to adopt one child for every 3 dads – a roughly $40-$50 contribution per dad. Aiming for this number will enable the PTF keep its commitment to the Rotary Club and limit the number of follow-up emails about adopting additional kids. Every first-time participant will receive a Secret Santa Patch and all participants will receive a 2023 present patch.
PAST MEMBERS/FRIENDS/SUPPORTERS/DONORS If you are unable to pick up a bag at our Longhouse meeting, we will deliver one to you! If you are unable shop for a child, but still would like to sponsor a child in whole or in part, we have many Guides and Princesses that would be happy to do the shopping for you. Please send an email to SecretSanta@ptfed.org and we will help you help us!!!
BAG DROP OFF
Bag drop-off will be at the Park District of La Grange (536 East Avenue La Grange) on Monday November 27th and Tuesday November 28th from 5:00 – 8:00pm. New this year, bags can also be dropped off on Thursday November 30th from 6:00 – 7:00pm. This later date will enable tribes to do their shopping after Thanksgiving if that works better for their group. If these drop-off times does not work for your Tribe, contact SecretSanta@ptfed.org for alternative options. Representatives from the Rotary Club will be there to take your bags as you drive up to the front of the building.
THANK YOU
Thank you to each of our members, tribal chiefs, friends, family, and supporters for your generosity and assistance to help spread some holiday cheer to each of the families in this program.