WJBC Brotherhood tree brings presents to thousands

Posted on December 20, 2014

Deliveries took place Saturday morning for the WJBC Brotherhood Tree.

By Terry James

BLOOMINGTON – With one thousand more people to serve than 2013, volunteers for the WJBC Brotherhood Tree faced a daunting task. 

However, volunteers joined together and made Christmas happen for 1700 families.  That's 9000 men, women, and children receiving a present to unwrap on Christmas morning.

Organizers had worried as volunteers ran out of gifts to wrap and bag on Wednesday.  However, the community continued to show their giving nature and stepped up to meet goals.  This year, kind  residents and businesses gave gifts, cash, checks, and even electronic donations through Paypal.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…