Holiday Food & Gift Basket Program

The Holiday Food and Gift Basket (HFGB) program provides gifts and food certificates to lower income families, seniors, and singles in the Oak Park and River Forest communities. In 2007, we were able to provide assistance at the holidays to 891 families.

The program is funded by financial contributions from the Youth Services of Oak Park and River Forest Townships along with donations from the Rotary Club, congregations and individuals throughout our communities. In addition, more than 300 individuals and groups sponsored the recipient families of the HFGB Program by buying holiday gifts.

If You Would Like To Help

How to Sponsor a Family

  1. Call the Holiday Food and Gift Basket office at 708/771-6159, ext. 244 or e-mail us at holidaybasket@hotmail.com and give us the following information:
    • Your first and last name
    • Your address
    • Your home and work number (if applicable)
    • Your e-mail address
    • Sponsor preference (family size, single individual, senior citizen)
  2. We will provide you with first names, ages, genders and “wish list” as soon as we match you with a family or individual that meets your preference. Then, just shop for gifts and wrap them in holiday paper. As a guideline, we suggest you spend about $50 per individual. If you would prefer, you can also request a family or individual who wants only gift certificates.
  3. Drop off your gifts between December 6 and December 11. We will send you directions on how to package your gifts and exactly when and where to drop them off.
  4. In addition, monetary contributions are always welcome to help fund food gift certificates which are provided to families at Thanksgiving and in December. Food gift certificates are provided in these amounts:
    • $50 for families of 5 members or fewer
    • $65 for families of 6 or more
    • $100 for 2 families of 5 or less
    • $130 for 2 families of 6 or more

Checks should be made out to Holiday Food and Gift Basket and sent to HFGB c/o Community of Congregations, P. O. Box 3365, Oak Park, IL 60303.

2008 Key Dates

  1. Friday, October 24: All referrals due to the Holiday Food and Gift Basket office
  2. Saturday, December 6 – Thursday, December 11: Drop off gifts at United Lutheran Church, 409 Greenfield, Oak Park
    • Saturday, December 6 – 9 a.m. - Noon
    • Monday, December 8 – Wednesday, December 10 – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Thursday, December 11 – 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
  3. Saturday, December 13: Gift delivery to sponsored families

For Those in Need of Support

To find out whether or not you qualify for assistance from the Holiday Food and Gift Basket program, please review these income guidelines.

2008 Income Guidelines for the Holiday Food and Gift Basket Program

The income levels detailed below (USDA reduced-price meals for FY 2008-09) are to be used as the factor in determining whether an individual or family qualifies for our program. The individual or family income (the total income of everyone who lives in the household) should be at these income levels or below.

2008 Income Guidelines
Household Size Yearly Income ($)
1 19,240
2 25,900
3 32,560
4 39,220
5 45,880
6 52,540
7 59,200
8 65,860
Additional family members 6,660

If you would like to learn more about how you and your family could receive support this holiday season, please contact one of the referral sources noted below (only one referral source is necessary).

Referral Sources

For Senior Citizens

Oak Park Township Senior Services
418 S. Oak Park Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60302
708/383-8060

For Single Adults

Oak Park Township
105 S. Oak Park Ave.
Oak Park, IIL 60302
708/383-8005

For Families with School-Age Children

Contact your school social worker in District #90, #97, #200 or the person in charge of your private school.

For Members of an Oak Park or River Forest Congregation

Call the leader of your congregation.

For Pre-School Children

Catherine Amato
Oak Park Department of Public Health Office
The Children’s Clinic
320 Lake St.
Oak Park, IL 60302
708/358-5484

For Hephzibah Families

Patty Gross
Hephzibah
115 N. Marion St.
Oak Park, IL 60302
708/649-7140

Contact Us

You can contact the Holiday Food and Gift Basket Program coordinators via e-mail at holidaybasket@hotmail.com or call us at 708/771-6159. Please allow up to seven rings before the voice mail picks up. Prior to October 1, we will respond to e-mail and phone messages weekly. After October 1, you should receive a return call/email in 48 hours.