The leaders of CCF were asked to give a Christmas Cheer presentation to the Boy Scouts of America, who wanted to become volunteers helping the charity during the holiday season.
Upon arriving, it was a surprise to both of them that the presentation was not to the scouts themselves, but to their leaders from various troops throughout the city.
The presentation went well and when they were just about to end, a scout leader raised his hand and asked if he could come up to the stage and speak.
We will never forget what he was about to say.....................
He volunteered on Christmas day the previous year and when he went to the last delivery home on his route, no one answered the doorbell. He was given their phone number on the route sheet and when he called, there was no answer. He was told before he began the deliveries, that he should not bring any food back to the Dominican University (where the deliveries came out of) and he should give it to the next home on the route sheet. Since this was the last delivery, he placed the meals and new childrens books in the car and went home for his holiday dinner and forgot about it. That evening, his phone rang with the same family telling him that they were still waiting for their meals. He immediately took his entire family to deliver the meals on Christmas night and he said it was the most meaningful thing his family could have done together on Christmas.
To hear this wonderful volunteer experience brought tears to our eyes and we once again knew that a greater power was involved in what we do.
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A few years back, we realized on Christmas morning that we had incorrectly ordered the meat. We were going to be short the meat portion for many meals. There was nothing we could do, but keep going until we ran out. One of the volunteers handling the meat would tell us when to stop making meals due to lack of meat. Well we never stopped – in fact there was so much meat left that we donated over 100 lbs. to a food pantry.
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And then there is the story of two gentlemen who volunteer with us that previously spent Christmas in bed for many years due to depression because they were alone and had no family. Well they are not alone anymore as they come every Christmas morning to put meals together to help those in need. We know never to refuse God's hand.
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A few years back..........we were closing the kitchen on Christmas morning.
All the thousands of deliveries had gone out and just as we were about to leave, the phone rang and it was a family that never received their meals. They had two small children and the father was ill with Cancer. We remember that we had placed a "Donors Box" on one of the tables and when we opened it, there was one $100.00 bill thrown on the bottom of the box and we knew at that time that it was placed there for this family.
This is a great charity that serves the needy every Christmas and now even during the year. I am proud to be the grandson of the man who takes the part of Santa Claus every Christmas. I have been volunteering my Christmas Day and the weeks before it since I was about 10 years old and actually able to help. We do a variety of things to put these meals together for 15,000+ people such as putting corn into cups and slicing ham. Every year I have a lot of fun helping. I have helped my grandpa deliver soup during the year to different places which I think is the same thing as helping on Christmas because you still have the good feeling of helping somebody in need. Every year the day after Christmas I miss helping and I feel like I need to help feed people in need more often.
I am proud to say that I have been a donor to Christmas cheer. This organization has provided meals on Christmas day to those less fortunate than the rest of us. The organizers and their volunteers selflessly donate their time, energy and Christmas morning to this most worthy cause.If anyone is interested in making a difference in the life of someone less fortunate, please consider Christmas Cheer. I've been blessed to be a part of this wonderful organization. God Bless them.
My husband and I have worked with Christmas Cheer, as part of the core group, for at least the last 10 years. We continue our work with this group because 100% of everything is for the recipients. EVERYTHING is collected, and delivered by volunteers in the spirit of giving to needy and/or seniors, who are lonely on one of the most blessed days of the year. Yes, we work very hard in the weeks before and especially on that day, but we are blessed because we CAN do it, for these very special people. Phil and Lucy are the two people who inspire us to continue working and to spread the name of Christmas Cheer so that others become aware of the good things this group does year after year.
Diane & Cecil Goubeaux
This is a great organization. Individuals involved do this out of love and look for no personal recogniztion. While needed food is provided to families, the joy of serving others is received by those who do the serving. This is an group that is a win win for all involved. I could not see my Christmas season without Christmas Cheer being a part of it.
Years ago this foundation started with one man's generosity, passion and selflessness. Phil Calabrese took this foundation from a couple hundred fresh hot boxed meals and hand delivered these meals to people less fortunate than himself. As the years went by the need for more meals became so great. He and his partner Lucille Dalbis have taken this foundation to a WHOPPING 15,000 prepared christmas meals and delivers them to the less fortunate people of Chicagoland. This is not the only thing they do, they also have toy and book drives for the children in these families. The love and passion that these two individuals put forth all year round just to prepare for this one morning a year is beyond comprehension. I have felt blessed to have been touched by these two very giving individuals. Christmas Cheer not only fills the bellies of the needy but fills the hearts of all who volunteer for them.
Christmas Cheer not only helps those individuals with the need of a dinner and some warm holiday wishes it gives families hope that there is goodness in the community that surrounds them, and that there are people that truly care. The only reward the volunteers get is the personal feeling that they have put smiles on small childrens faces, a meal on their table and the satisfaction of knowing that for that blessed day a family in need has been helped. The organization is infectious, once you have helped or once you have told a friend about it you and they are hooked.
This foundation is amazing for both the individuals and families that receive service, but also for all the volunteers that give their time and heart for the mission. On Christmas day while the meals are being created and the delivery routes are being distributed, this is much LOVE in the air. Entire families come to help and I've heard them say that this charity gives them an opportunity to feel the true meaning of Christmas. I am truely blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer with people that have such open hearted concern and love for people. Thanks Phil, you created all this!
This organization is awfully important to individuals and families in the western suburbs of Chicago. It spreads cheer on the "a most important day" to people who may have been forgotten: the elderly, the poor, the lonely. A nice meal and a small gift for a child means "we care." I was excited by the energy generated by everyone involved. On Christmas morning, the place is like a happy beehive. I was glad to be part of it and will be a part of it every year.
This charity is the only charity that works on Christmas Day to delivery foode to over 16,000 homes. 500 people volunteer to deliver meals on Christmas morning. This charity serves not only the people that need food, but the people that want to serve. All donations - everyone is a volunteer. All children receive books and beanie babies with their gift wrapped and their name on it.
This charity uses more of its donated monies and gifts in kind for its food programs than any other I have worked with. This is a selfless group of individuals, without ego or agenda that exceeds all expectations. One man's vision, Phil Calabrese has turned into amassive outpouring of people, many of whom spend their christams morning feeding the poor of the Chicago area.
Review from Guidestar