Giving from the heart at Together We Cope
Eric Ciccone of Tinley Park gets some help from Harriet Arnold of Chicago in wrapping the Christmas presents he made during the recent “Gifts from the Heart” project at Zion Lutheran Church in Tinley Park.Delta Kappa Gamma service society helps children create their own holiday gifts.
     “This one is for my mommy, and this one is for my Grandma,” said one little girl as she concentrated on creating two lace angel ornaments at one worktable.
     “This is for my sister, so she doesn’t forget her money anymore,” explained a little boy at another craft table as he filled a little handmade purse with tissue and candy.
     They were among dozens of area children who got into the holiday spirit at Zion Lutheran Church in Tinley Park Dec. 8 as they made their own Christmas gifts for family and friends in the annual “Gifts from the Heart” program presented by the Beta Beta chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a service society for educators. The organization provides the program for children of client families at Together We Cope.
      The teachers provide all the materials needed for each craft project, and they guide each child through the process of creating the Christmas presents. Volunteers then gift wrap the presents and pack them into shopping bags the youngsters take home to celebrate the holidays. “I wouldn’t miss this program,” said one volunteer. “It’s just the most fun holiday thing ever.”

  Alex Eyer of Tinley Park wraps up a Christmas mug filled with candy.     Gabrielle Evans of Oak Forest proudly displays the wreath Christmas ornament she made from puzzle pieces.    Peg Rees of Tinley Park (left) and her grand-daughter Colleen Fisher of Oak Lawn line up bundles of felt material used by children making winter scarves for their loved ones.

 Thomas Mansbridge of Midlothian works with volunteer Julie Carr of Oak Forest to create a Christmas ornament during the “Gifts from the Heart” project of Together We Cope in Tinley Park.