Phil Jordan from Peoria Journal Star was our guest on the air Monday morning to fill us in about Peoria Star Journal’s Annual Christmas sing. The culmination of The Christmas Fund; the annual event that our community assists in gather financial support to benefit those right here in Peoria. The Christmas Fund is already off to a big start this year again! It all began more than 70 years ago by a lone PJ Star Journalist; and continues to this day. Keep track of this year contributors & goals online; right here daily. The Annual PJ Star Sing will be broadcast again this year from Peoria Civic Center Theatre; and live on 973 NashFM, WFYR; so that anyone and everyone can enjoy this annual event; even if they are not able to be on location!
Excerpt from Peoria Journal Star
Nearly 90 percent of the American population celebrates Christmas, according to a recent poll the Pew Center on Religion and Public Life conducted. Although Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ, even those who aren’t religious still tend to observe the holiday.
Likewise, the Journal Star Christmas Fund has relative unanimity — among those who give, and those who receive.
Read the letters the Journal Star receives each year from needy families in Fulton, Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties. The themes often are the same.
Lost jobs. Illness. Personal disasters, such as a house fire.
“I am 64 years old and I am on disability for my illness,” wrote Peoria resident Ramona Trevino of Peoria, a victim of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. “Unable to work and I’m barely making ends meet, with the help of my Lord.”
Wrote Chunti King, also of Peoria: “I have been looking for another job, but it’s hard when nobody wants to hire you and Christmas is around the corner. So this year’s going to hurt.”
The pain can drip off the page.
Then read the letters the Journal Star receives each year from those compassionate and fortunate enough to donate money to the Christmas Fund, now in its 105th year.
Although those letters come from a perspective different than those who request food baskets or toy-filled Christmas stockings, the anguish can be just as palpable.
Many of those who donate do so in the names of relatives and friends who have died.
“In memory of my loving husband … his father, mother, sister,” Peoria resident Helen Alder wrote. “In memory of all my dear friends. I miss all of you.”
Wrote Steve Smith of Princeville: “In memory of my son Eric, bullied for six-plus years, now free for over 11.”
Gut-wrenching stuff.
The point of all this is not to pull too hard on your heartstrings. It’s to show that we Americans — we Peorians, we central Illinoisans — still have more that unites us than divides us, in good and bad.
This country recovered from the Civil War, the most divisive period in its history, and became better than ever. Regardless of which side of the current political gulf you find yourself, remember this, too, shall pass.
The generosity of Christmas Fund donors will help hundreds of Peoria-area families pass this holiday in better shape than they would have been otherwise.
On this Christmas Day, in this endeavor and in others that have nothing to do with the holiday, it might be wise to remember the wisdom Carole and Owen Ackerman of Peoria forwarded with their donation this year. It comes from the Bible, from the First Epistle to the Thessalonians:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”
Although the food baskets and stockings for 2017 already have been distributed, the Christmas Fund still is accepting donations for 2018. They can be made online at www.christmasfunddonation.com or by mail to Christmas Fund, P.O. Box 1549, Peoria, IL 61655.
Merry Christmas, one and all.
