Brightening the lives of local children affected by financial hardship.
Big Hearts of Fox Valley NFP is a 501c3 charity organization dedicated to brightening the lives of children whose families are experiencing a financial hardship within School District 303. With a reach to St. Charles and portions of Wayne, Wasco, Elburn, West Chicago, South Elgin, Campton Hills, and unincorporated Kane County, we're committed to identifying and coming together to meet the emotional and basic needs of those around us. We are staffed entirely by volunteers with the assistance of local individuals, families, businesses and local government.
Some of you may know us as the owners of Excel Automotive Repair. Because of our desire to help even more local children throughout the year, in 2019 we decided to become an official non for profit. When coming up with the name, we thought of how this really is such a community effort and how everyone has such big, caring hearts. We came up with the name BIG HEARTS of FOX VALLEY.
Since 2014, we have been coordinating a Christmas Gift Sponsorship & Holiday Toy Drive to help children in need in School District 303 receive gifts from wish lists that they personally create. We work directly with D303 social workers who identify families who may be experiencing any of the following factors that impact the parentsโ ability to provide gifts during the holidays and throughout the year:
Single parent - Illness or death in the immediate family - Loss of income or low-income โ Homelessness - Home destroyed by fire - Other circumstances that may impact a familyโs ability to provide gifts to their children, determined at the discretion of the social worker.
These wish lists are comprised of a few toy ideas and clothing and shoe sizes. Many of these kids need basic things like winter coats, clothing and winter boots.
ยท In 2014, we helped 89 children.
ยท In 2015, we helped 65 children.
ยท In 2016, we helped 84 children.
ยท In 2017, we helped 197 children.
ยท In 2018, we helped 443 children.
ยท In 2019, we helped 655 children.
Each year, in December, we have a Gift Wrapping Party. The entire community is invited to come together to wrap the donated gifts and to celebrate the magic of Christmas with us. With help from several local community sponsors, there is plenty of food, drinks and entertainment for the entire family. This is a FREE event open to the public and is a great opportunity to show children about the importance of giving back. Sign up for this event is in October and always fills up fast.
ยท In 2018, more than 600 people came together to wrap over 2400 gifts!
ยท In 2019, more than 800 people came together to wrap almost 4000 gifts!
Thanks to community support, we are able to help children with their basic needs with our Big Hearts Throughout the Year program. We provide items such as clothing, shoes and toiletries throughout the year. So far in 2020, we have been able to provide hygiene kits and almost $8000 in gift cards for families struggling due to our current Covid-19 crisis.
In the future, we hope to partner with even more community individuals, businesses and local charity organizations to help achieve our goal. We hope you will join us in our efforts to make the lives of the children around us a little brighter, not just at Christmastime but throughout the year as well.
- Jennifer & Minor Mobley, Founders
[email protected]
Bigheartsfv.org
630-400-1602