Hundreds of area families were able to pick out winterwear, bikes, toys and more at the Barrington Giving Day event earlier this month, capping another year of community outreach for the hosting nonprofit organization that also holds three other giveaways for families in need.
At the Dec. 9 distribution, held at Barrington Middle School- Station campus, 443 families were registered, according to organizers, and volunteers helped them as they chose the available items they wanted.
“As always, there’s a need,” said Dori Hough, executive director of Barrington Giving Day.
Barrington Giving Day, a nonprofit community organization as well as the title name of its giveaway events, assists families of Barrington School District 220 and others who may be in need.
Towns in the school district’s boundaries include Barrington, Carpentersville, Hoffman Estates, Fox River Grove, Deer Park, Tower Lakes, North Barrington, Lake Barrington, Port Barrington and South Barrington.
Hough said this year, families beyond Barrington were served, including Lake Zurich and Huntley.
“We’re trying to expand and really serve the families as much as possible throughout the year, so we’re constantly in need of the support,” Hough added.
At the end of the shopping journey that Saturday morning, participants were offered snack bags with fruit that was provided by The Community Meal of Barrington. The Community Meal maintains a calendar of free meals open to all and rotates at local houses of worship and other community locations.
There were also free COVID-19 test kits to take which are not covered now by a majority of insurance plans and cost about $23 each.
Barrington Giving Day hosts four events each year, one in the spring, for back to school event, a pop up prom boutique and the flagship holiday event.
Approximately 200 high school student volunteers assisted with the holiday giveaway, and some middle school students also helped with preparations.
“These kids are the lifeblood of what we do,” said Hough.
Hough’s daughter, Ariana Squires, of St. Petersburg, Florida and also a SD220 alum, has assisted at Barrington Giving Day since middle school.
Squires now handles the social media and marketing to promote BGD philanthropy.
“It’s totally taken off,” Squires said of the growth of Barrington Giving Day. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the great foundation that’s been in place since the 80s.”
Hough said the increase in marketing and social media is meant to draw more awareness to the organizations and its community support efforts.
“Our donations this year have been through the roof because I think mostly in part because of our social media,” Hough said.
At the Dec. 9 event, volunteers were wore red T-shirts with “We rise by lifting others” printed on the back.
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“We love to help out,” said volunteer Simone Zorzy of Barrington who assisted in the coat department with son Will Zorzy, 16, a junior at Barrington High School.
“I just really enjoy helping people,” said Will Zorzy, a 16-year-old junior at Barrington High School who was among the day’s volunteers. “And knowing that they have clothes for their children makes me happy.”
Vanessa Johnson, of Barrington Hills, helped to staff a station in the multipurpose room.
“We’re giving back to the community we live in,” Johnson said. “That’s the most important thing.”
Volunteer Katie Johnson, of Barrington, called it “humbling” to see how the community “really rallies around itself to support this event for others.”
Over and over, volunteers echoed their joy for being able to help others.
“It feels good, always,” said Horner Chen, of South Barrington, a regular volunteer for The Community Meal. “It’s a lot of work, a lot of people today. But it’s good. It’s very good”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.