Giftmart at Bardwell Elementary, Aurora 2021 Sponsored by Community Cares

550 S Lincoln Ave,Aurora IL 60505

18 December, 2021

Description

Per District requirements, all volunteers need to be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID test 72 hours prior to event. Masks required Volunteers must be 16 years or older at the event. Family volunteer options are available prior to the event at our boxing and sorting nights. Giftmart seeks to reimagine the holiday charity model.  Every December, the generosity of communities is harnessed to do more than just place toys under the tree in low-income neighborhoods.  Our focus is fourfold: Provide parents of low-income elementary schools a dignified way to acquire gifts for their children at Christmastime. Provide educational funding for low-income schools.Provide an introduction to individuals in outlying communities that highlight the needs of the target neighborhood.  Encourage  parental involvement at the local elementary school.Volunteers must be 16 years or older. Per the School District, masks will be required for all volunteers. Since 2003, Giftmart has joined with businesses and faith-based organizations to collect more than 150,000 new toys. In an effort to preserve dignity, parents are allowed to choose gifts for their children at a discounted price $2 per toy. As Giftmart’s operating budget is separately funded, for nearly 2 decades it has empowered low-income families to reinvest more than $200,000 into their local schools, resulting in the purchase of much needed library books, computers, musical instruments and other supplies.