Cyndi Schay was wiping tears from her eyes when she saw how many volunteers had packed boxes of food and donated warm coats, gloves and hats for local Plainfield families.
Schay is a bus driver in Plainfield and has two children in Plainfield schools. But, Schay says, this holiday season she’s going through a rough time and needs some help to make the holidays go smoothly for her and her children.
“It is very emotional,” Schay said. “I walked through that door and I was overwhelmed with generosity, just seeing all the coats on the table and the tremendous amount of food. There is absolutely good in the world.”
Creekside Cares is a nonprofit organization started by Creekside Elementary School teacher Jeff Peterson to help families in Plainfield School District 202.
Peterson and his volunteers packed about 200 boxes with breakfast items such as eggs, sausages, bacon, pancake mix, syrup, oatmeal and hot cocoa mix. The intent is so families can have a special breakfast on Christmas morning.
“We want them to have that experience and cooking and baking as a family, because that is a big part of family: Getting that central family unit stronger,” Peterson said.
Peterson said he and his volunteers started making the boxes the previous night. Aux Sable Middle School donated coats, hats and gloves to the effort for families to pick up when they also came to get their food boxes.
Creekside Cares was able to get help with the Christmas food and clothing drive from the Plainfield Junior Women’s Club, Kohl’s and Plainfield Girl Scout Troop 824. The Plainfield Kiwanis donated $350 and the North Plainfield Wal-Mart donated a $50 gift card to help Peterson and his volunteers buy food supplies.
Community members such as Art Walaski of Romeoville also helped.
Walaski said he wanted to help because he has known Peterson for years. They met through church.
“He’s a big guy with a big heart,” Walaski said. “It’s just an awesome blessing (for the families). With the way this world is now, everyone is ‘me, me, me’ and they don’t think about the ones who are in need. All they need to do is just open their heart once in a while.”
Schay was just one of many who stopped by the Community Christian Church in Plainfield on Saturday to pick up a donated food box filled with perishable and non-perishable goods.
She went there with a friend, who wanted to remain unidentified, but said she was a teacher in the Plainfield School District for 14 years before getting laid off.
“The kids are what really get you,” Walaski said. “When they look at you with that smile on their face, it is a joy to the heart. These little kids are so thrilled for the littlest thing you could give them.”
Peterson also gave out Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 23, the Saturday before the holiday. Most of the food boxes included frozen turkeys, ingredients for side dishes and any other food that was donated.
Creekside Cares doesn’t just provide help during Thanksgiving and Christmas. The charity sends donates backpacks of non-perishable food items and snacks to children at Creekside School on a regular basis.
Walaski is hopeful that more donations will come in to help Peterson and his charity. But he understands that the Plainfield-Romeoville area may have a misconception to many people.
“Around here, there are quite a few affluent families,” Walaski said. “Then there are families who are not so affluent and who are in need. The ones that have, (may think), ‘I’ve got mine.’ And that’s sad the way this world is.”