Kids of all ages can board The Cancer Support Center’s version of the Polar Express for a Polar Express Pajama Party to support the services that the organization offers at its centers in Mokena and Homewood.
“It’s a great way to come out and support the community,” said Frankfort resident Jenn Adams, 40, a member of the Mokena center’s community board.
Adams said the fundraiser will be from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Parkview Christian Church, 11100 Orland Parkway, Orland Park. Suggested donations are $10 per child and $5 per adult. The event includes a viewing of the movie “The Polar Express,” a photo with Santa, a take-home craft and a parting gift for each child. Refreshments will include popcorn, a hot dog and a drink, Adams said. Raffles will be sold for a chance to win a basket with kid-related items worth at least $25, she said.
Children are encouraged to bring a blanket and wear their favorite pajamas, as children do in the animated movie, Adams said. The pajama party theme, “Believe,” will be stamped on the children’s tickets by the Polar Express conductor as children get “on board” in the City Room at Parkview.
Adams said fundraising events are vital to The Cancer Support Center, and the community board decided to make the newest fundraiser a family-friendly event.
“All of the fundraising events are typically geared toward adults,” Adams said. “There’s not a whole lot to do that’s family-related. We had always talked about doing something family-related because we do have kids programs as well.”
Adams said The Cancer Support Center has a weekly kids club, family counseling and special programs for children. All proceeds will be used to support free services offered by the center, she said, including the wig boutique, counseling and nutrition classes, among others.
Adams has been a volunteer for The Cancer Support Center since she learned about it after her father, Paul Matala, died of lung cancer in 2005. Adams said her mother-in-law, Risa Adams, brought the center to her attention and both women became volunteers as a way to “get the word out.”
“It’s such an excellent resource and a lot of people don’t know about it, unfortunately,” Adams said.
Adams, who helped form the Mokena site’s community board about 41/2 years ago and works at fundraising for the nonprofit, said the number of participants continues to grow.
More Top Picks Best Pocket Knives For Everyday Carry
Records for The Cancer Support Center show that service hours and the number of people serviced have increased by 25 percent over the same period last year. According to the records, the Homewood and Mokena sites have, to date, provided services to about 8,500 individuals over nearly 10,000 service hours. Adams said those statistics show a growing need for the center’s services.
“Basically this is going to help fund our services that are free of charge to participants,” she said.
Adams said sponsorships and volunteers for the Polar Express Pajama Party are still needed. She said volunteers will help with check-in, raffle ticket sales and at food stations, among other responsibilities.
“We are in the community,” Adams said. “We are helping people right here in your back yard, your neighbors and your neighbors’ neighbors.”
The site in Homewood is at 2028 Elm Road. The one in Mokena is at 19657 LaGrange Road.
For information and to register, call the center at (708) 798-9171.
Ginger Brashinger is a freelance writer who covers the Lincoln-Way community for the Daily Southtown.