Loyola Pediatric Mobile Health Unit, Santa to Help Children Demonstrate True Meaning of Christmas

WHAT: They have very little themselves, but what they do have, the children of Sacred Heart School in Melrose Park will share with children who have even less at St. Angela Elementary School in the Austin neighborhood. A few days before Christmas, the children of Sacred Heart will give collected toys to Santa, who will take them to the children at St. Angela’s. “The community is strapped financially, but the children still give. It is heart-warming and inspirational,” said Barbara Ciconte, principal, Sacred Heart School. The Pediatric Mobile Health Unit of the Ronald McDonald® Children’s Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood will serve as Santa’s sleigh and transport the toys to St. Angela’s. “This means a lot, because many of our children won’t otherwise receive much for Christmas,” said Mary Kay O’Rourke, principal of St. Angela’s. “It means even more to our students to know that the gifts will come from other children.” WHO: Santa Claus, children of Melrose Park and Austin, employees of Loyola University Health System. WHEN: Toy pickup takes place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15; toy drop-off takes place at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16. WHERE: Toy Pickup Sacred Heart School (school courtyard) 815 N. 16th Ave., Melrose Park Toy Drop-Off St. Angela Elementary School 1332 N. Massasoit Ave., Chicago HOW: Media who are planning to attend should call Nora Plunkett at (708) 417-5014.