Several hundred families attend the McLean County Chamber/Bloomington Trades and Labor Christmas Party eash year. (Photo courtesy McLean County Chamber of Commerce)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON - Business and labor leaders are teaming together to help families in need during the holidays.

The McLean County Chamber of Commerce and Bloomington Normal Trades and Labor Assembly are requesting donations for their 30th annual Children's Christmas Party.

The party will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15 at Bloomington High School. Crafts begin at 10 a.m. and Santa will make an appearance to distribute gifts at 11 a.m.

Chamber President Charlie Moore said the chamber needs financial help from corporations, businesses and individuals to ensure that no child who attends the party will go home empty-handed.

"We will accept contributions from anywhere we can get them," Moore said.

Moore said the event typically gets about 500 children of unemployed or under-employed Bloomington-Normal workers and can be a measuring stick for the strength of the local economy.

"There are tell-tale signs of a recovering economy. We are acknowledging that, but one of the biggest industries that's still been slow to recover is construction and a lot of different infrastructure jobs,"

The chamber says gifts can be mailed to the McLean County Chamber, Attn: Children's Christmas Party, 210 S. East Street, P.O. Box 1586, Bloomington, IL 61702-1586.

Families wishing to make a reservation for the party can call the chamber office at (309) 829-6344.

Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.