ETHICAL ACTION COMMITTEE ASSISTS RICE CHILDREN’S CENTER

Under the auspices of our Ethical Action Committee, Society members have been working on projects to offer assistance, materials, and opportunities to the youngsters at Rice Children’s Center in Evanston, a therapeutic residence and school operated by Children’s Home and Aid, and District 65.

In December, a call went out to Society members to contribute new or like-new giftables for a “Holiday Store” so the children could “shop” (gratis) for presents to give to loved ones for the holidays. The response was overwhelming, and 20 shopping bags full were delivered to the Center with the help of Cynthia Diaz. She and husband Dan Popuch personally donated several rolls of wrapping paper, bows and gift tags for the project. The amazing array of gifts were arranged on tables by Rice school psychologist and Society member Marne Glaser. Our “shopkeepers” were Dick Carney, Matt Cole and Marilee Cole, while Chris Mahieu and Marne manned the gift wrap center.

The excited children (ages 8-14) entered in small groups, made their selections, and partook in the happy chaos of gift wrapping---many for the first time ever. They were thrilled to have the opportunity to give gifts to their families and teachers. One girl remarked that his helped make it her “best Christmas ever!” The Rice Center’s clinical training director, Melvyn Tate, was a great help in making it all happen.

Even after each child came through, there were still enough gifts remaining to open up the “store” a second afternoon, and Ken Novak was on hand with Marne to help out.

With this successful collaboration under our belts, we embarked on a new Rice project in January—providing art history materials for Rice art teacher Denise Taylor to use in her classroom with the kids. Once again, Society members were more than generous in donating art books, posters, and prints. Ms. Taylor was thrilled.