Hollie Shriber isn't sleeping much lately. She is worried she will let down the 49 (or more!) children who are coming to her second annual Christmas party at St. Olaf's Church in Aurora, IL.
Her guest list is continuing to grow.
Hollie's two daughters attended Krug Elementary in Aurora. About 90 percent of the children who go to this school get a free hot lunch, because they are either low-income or no-income families.
Hollie volunteered as a teacher’s aide for 2 ½ hours a day at the school when her girls attended.
One boy in particular would follow her around at recess. She said he was a sweet boy - and every day he wore the same clothes. She went to the thrift store and bought him some more clothes. His mother was happy to receive the clothes, and Hollie learned his mom was single with six children.
Hollie became intrigued with the home lives of many of the children who attend this school.
She began a group called "Mom's Time Out" that meets once a month at St. Olaf’s. The women have dinner and then have an activity to enrich their lives. Sometimes it's a local speaker or someone to teach a skill. Other times it's a local jewelry-maker coming in with beads so each woman can make something pretty to take home.
Hollie started to visit government-funded apartments nearby to invite women and families to “Mom’s Time Out.”
She went door-to-door and invited them to come for dinner.
She talked with families and was invited in. Some moms would just come for dinner; others have begun attending her church.
Hollie has a story for each family. The mom was diagnosed with a rare disease. The dad works but had to take a lot of time off to take care of his family during this difficult time. The family got way behind on bills and lost their house. So now the family of five kids and parents are in a small two-bedroom house. Kids are ages are 2-18.
One 16 year old girl is a single mom of an 8 month old. She is still going to high school. Her mom watches her baby for her during the day. Hollie met her when she was just a few weeks pregnant and took her to the doctor to make sure she was getting vitamins. The girl's mom is 42 years old. She has six kids, and one daughter in jail. They live with a 24-year-old mom with three kids of her own (ages 1, 3, and 8), two teenage boys, and a 12-year-old girl who is now in Waldo. All these people under the same roof, and they are nice and welcoming. Hollie’s been to their house often, and they have come to hers.
They are all invited to the Christmas party noon Dec. 15 at St. Olaf's Church in Aurora. We are asking people to select a name of a child (age and gender is provided) and buy and wrap a present.
Contact Hollie Shriber if you can help: 630-518-2265 or email: jenniferslepicka@gmail.com (Jen Slepicka).
Donations can be dropped off to St. Olaf's Church:
1233 Douglas Avenue Montgomery, IL 60538 Someone is there 8:30-12am every day. Phone number: 630-896-1311
Additionally, basic essentials are needed for many of these families: beds, blankets, coats, gloves, hats.
Many of these families do not have beds. They have hard surface floors without rugs. No TVs. No Internet. No phones. Few toys, if any. Hollie also would welcome food donations for the party.
Let's help Hollie get the rest at night that she so richly deserves.
"Everyone has a story,” Hollie said. “These are good people. Our neighbors. I just want to serve where God leads me."
The list is of modest items:
Kenneth Boy 7 size 10 clothes, legos, blanket, socks
Jacques Boy 10 likes Batman items, favorite color green loves sports, Men Med. clothes size 32 waist
Jake boy 12 size 12 needs warm clothes R
ob boy 10 -shoes size 3 , books,games
Chris boy 11- blue blanket, football
Kendra Girl 4 (Loves Minnie and Mickey mouse) size 5
Janet 17- Blanket, pillow, game, womens socks
Jaakia 8 month old need diapers size 3.
18 month clothes Roy
Boy 8 Issac Boy 7
Aayiah girl 7 size 7-8
Alexis girl 6 size 9
Taina Girl 3 size 5
Jalisa Girl 9
Jaquan Boy 9
Jawan Boy 4
TeAsia girl 7 need clothes size 8
Terrell Boy 8
Jayden Boy 3
Dayonna Girl 8
Corianna girl 4
Damayaj girl 7
Steven boy 5
Kayvon boy 7
Tremell boy 2
Jamila girl 7
Aayilah girl 5
Deadra girl 4
Keyvon Boy 9
Travis Boy 14
Dajia Girl 11 need clothes size 12/14 need coat gloves hat
Christian Boy 11 Needs clothes size 12 Has to wear Navy Blue shirts to school, legos
Madi girl 11 artsy stuff, jewelry,
Brian 16 needs socks size 30 waist xlg shirts
Jwan 13 need clothes size 14-16 love basketball
Kyle 14 boy I will get a more detailed wants and need if asked
Cassandra girl 15
Casy girl 14
Jon boy 16
Daniel Boy 3. Needs snow boots size 11, winter hat. His favorite characters are Thomas, Woody & Buzz, Bob the Builder, Chuggington & lightening mcqueen.
Dylan Boy 4. Needs slippers size 12, the kind with a rubber sole since we have tile floors, winter hat, snow boots size 12. His favorite characters are Thomas, Lightening McQueen and Mater. He would like playdough, coloring books, color wonder, fruit snacks, lollipops, bubbles
Robin 17 Girl laundry soap house hold stuff
Jeremiah Boy 7 books, warm clothes size 7
Jmare Boy 3 warm clothes, pants size 4t pjs blanket
Markque- boy 1 warm clothes
Renee girl 16 toiletries , cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, pjs small, devotional book
June girl 18 toiletries , devotional book, Christian books
Janet girl 18 Christian books, cleaning supplies, frames, Laundry detergent, family games
Crystal girl 17 detergent, toiletries, Hair Accessories, games
Dwansha girl 16 detergent, toiletries, small pjs
Andrea girl 17 devotional book, laundry detergent
Alannah girl 4- wants a doll stroller, new doll favorite color pink
Alicia girl 6 - favorite color blue and purple wants a doll stroller, Barbies, size 7 clothes
Christian boy 11- model cars, football , pants, size 12 Lilly 15-toiletries , Christian books, artsy stuff
Staci girl 16- blanket, pillow
Donna girl 15- blankets , Gospel Music Mary mary
Carl boy 17- blanket, pillow, football
