In a heartwarming display of community spirit, Christmas cheer arrived right on cue at several shelters on Chicago’s South Side, as hundreds of meals and toys found their way to those in need. The initiative, perfectly timed for Christmas lunch, brought joy and relief to many, including single mothers and their children residing at a shelter in West Englewood.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Olive Branch Mission, where many of these families find refuge, plays a pivotal role in spreading warmth and care. “We have a lot of people here for different reasons, but Olive Branch tries to make it special for them, show them that people love them and do care about them,” explained Donna Pearson-Simmons, a representative from the mission. Her words underscore the organization’s commitment to providing emotional support alongside practical assistance.

This compassionate effort is largely driven by St. Sabina Catholic Church, located in Auburn Gresham. For years, the church has been steadfast in ensuring that those less fortunate do not miss out on the joys of Christmas. “Years ago I heard many shelters had sandwiches on Christmas morning because they were letting the staff go so they could have Christmas with their families, so we said no, I want to make sure they have good meals so how do we make this work,” shared Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina.

The seamless execution of this initiative is thanks to the dedication of numerous volunteers. These individuals take on various roles, from drivers who deliver the meals to those who meticulously pack and sort the items to be distributed. Their collective efforts culminated in delivering Christmas cheer to over a dozen locations, including shelters, veterans’ homes, and even the local police department.

Through the generous endeavors of St. Sabina and its volunteers, the spirit of giving and community shines brightly, ensuring that everyone, no matter their circumstances, can experience the magic of Christmas.

It works thanks to dozens of volunteers, the drivers who deliver the meals, along with many more who pack and sort who gets what. On this Christmas Day, St. Sabina delivered for over a dozen different locations including shelters, veterans homes and even the local police department.

“I know what it like to not have anything, to be in a shelter,” volunteer Hiola G. Alston said. “I’ve never been in a shelter, but I’ve got a lot of people that i know that were in shelters, some that that still are. It makes it better for them to feel like somebody actually cares and that they want to show them some love too.”

The meals themselves, 1600 in all, were provided by six local caterers.

“We’ve prepared our roasted chicken, candied sweet potatoes, homemade cornbread stuffing, green beans and a roll,” caterer Nicole Jordan said.

St. Sabina pays for the meals as a way to help the business and those on the receiving end of them.

“A warm meal for some people is very important,” said John Meyer with BJ’s Market and Bakery. “So we think about that. We love doing this.”