ParkTalk Blog: Season of Giving with the Naperville Park District

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

As the calendar year draws to an end, many people find themselves preparing for a busy holiday season. Whether it’s celebrating Thanksgiving with family or giving gifts to friends, this time of year is full of holiday traditions and time spent with your own community of loved ones. This season is about spreading positivity and compassion to one another and expressing gratitude for the people that make it special. 

Unfortunately, there are people in every community that struggle at this time of year, whether from financial hardships or being away from loved ones. In times of need, it is important to look out for your neighbor and offer help if you can. As an organization built on the values of a strong, enriched community, the Naperville Park District continually seeks to serve its residents, during the holidays and year-round. Through a variety of donation drives and charitable initiatives, the Park District and its partners work to build a stronger and community.

Pennies for Pies

Pie donations from the Naperville Park District are delivered to Loaves and Fishes.

Every November, the Park District invites the community to donate to the annual Pennies for Pies initiative. Over the course of three weeks, the District collects financial donations, in person and online, to help fund the purchase of pumpkin pies. Those pies are donated to Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry, a Naperville nonprofit, that distributes pies to families in need as part of their annual Thanksgiving initiative. In 2024, the Park District collected $543.24 and donated 130 pumpkin pies.

Pennies for Pies began in 2006 as a Park District preschool initiative to teach the young students about giving back by donating small amounts of money. The scope of the campaign has grown over time to encourage the community to help make someone’s Thanksgiving a little sweeter. Donations of any amount are welcome and eventually all add up to a successful campaign to help make Thanksgiving dinner more enjoyable and memorable for our neighbors in need.

Giving Tuesday and the Fee Assistance Program

The Park District asks for donations to the Fee Assistance Program Tuesday, December 3 and year-round.

Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity that falls on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It is a day which encourages people and organizations to donate their time or money towards charitable causes. Anyone can participate with an act of kindness, like raising money for a nonprofit or community organization, volunteering at a local shelter or distributing essential goods to unhoused individuals. The purpose of Giving Tuesday is to give back and support the communities and people that live in them. Even the smallest act of generosity can have a meaningful impact on someone’s life. 

For this year’s Giving Tuesday on December 3, the Naperville Park District asks Naperville residents to help support its Fee Assistance Program through online donations. The Fee Assistance Program gives residents experiencing financial hardships the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of recreation that many people take for granted. Donations to the program are used to offset costs for recreational experiences like summer camp, Centennial Beach memberships and many other programs the Park District offers. Each year, hundreds of individuals of all ages benefit from the Fee Assistance Program. Participating in recreation programs has been shown to result in better performance in school and increased emotional health for children. While the Park District accepts donations for the Fee Assistance Program year-round, the community can help give the gift of recreation during the holiday season. If you are interested in learning more about the Fee Assistance Program and would like to donate, please visit napervilleparks.org/feeassistanceprogram. 

Turkey Shoot and Operation Support Our Troops-America

Winning team at Naperbrook Golf Course following the 2024 Turkey Shoot.

Every golf season, Springbrook and Naperbrook Golf Courses host the Brooks Tournament Series. Throughout the year, area golfers compete in various tournaments at both courses, wrapping up the series with the annual Turkey Shoot. Everyone is eligible to play in this casual and fun holiday golf event as a way to close out the golf season and swing into the holidays. As part of the tradition of the Turkey Shoot, all tournament participants receive a prize turkey, with the tournament winners receiving the largest ones. However, players can elect to donate the value of the turkey to Operation Support Our Troops-America. 

Operation Support Our Troops-America is a non-profit that sends care packages and letters of support to troops overseas. Here in the United States, they also support veterans and families of fallen service members by offering programs of hope and healing. The organization strives to facilitate awareness in the community of the needs of troops and veterans, and they provide the opportunity for community members to express their appreciation for our veterans and active duty servicemen and women. At this year’s Turkey Shoot, 89 players donated the value of their turkeys for a contribution totaling $1,096.48 to Operation Support Our Troops-America and their mission. While we celebrate the holidays with our friends and family, it is important to remember the thousands of men and women who cannot because they are protecting our country. If you’d like support Operation Support Our Troops-America’s mission, visit osotamerica.org.

DuPage County Toys for Tots Drive

Display of toys collected from the 2022 Toys for Tots drive.

The holidays can be a difficult time for families facing financial hardships. Parents are challenged with giving their children a memorable holiday while still affording essential needs. However, the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program alleviates holiday stress for economically disadvantaged families. Formed in 1991, the Marine Corps Toys for Tots collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them to families in need during the holidays. Regional campaigns operate throughout the country, including in DuPage County. DuPage County’s Toys for Tots campaign impacts thousands of children’s lives in the region each winter, supporting over 43,000 children in 2023 alone.

The Naperville Park District’s Park Police have collected toys for the campaign since 2010. Each year, the Park Police invite the community to make toy donations across several Park District facilities. In 2023, the Park District collected a total of 1,769 toys, over 100 more toys donated than in 2022, and as a result, the Naperville Park District was recognized as the largest donor in DuPage County. Thanks to the generosity of the community, children throughout the area can receive a special gift to help their holidays feel a bit more magical. Naperville Park District will continue to collect toys through Saturday, December 14. If you’d like to donate to the Park District’s Toys for Tots effort, visit napervilleparks.org for details regarding collection sites.