GILROY
– While most young students are eagerly awaiting the arrival of
Santa’s gifts, Luigi Aprea fifth-grader Chelsea Chilman is
committed to making Christmas memorable for 44 children at the Twin
Palms Mobile Park on Church Street.
GILROY – While most young students are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa’s gifts, Luigi Aprea fifth-grader Chelsea Chilman is committed to making Christmas memorable for 44 children at the Twin Palms Mobile Park on Church Street.
“I pass by there on my way home every day, and they seem really needy,” Chilman said.
She and her mother, Lydia decided to organize a toy and cash donation drive and approached the mobile-home park manager for a list of children living at the park. Although an ambitious goal, Chelsea wanted to collect a toy for each child.
“I want to give my time to this so they can enjoy Christmas,” Chelsea said. “It’s my favorite holiday.”
She spread the word about her project at the Dry Creek Village Business Park, where her father Jeff Chilman works. After one employee donated a Christmas tree as the “Gift Giving Tree” Chelsea spent three days decorating ornaments for each of the children.
“This was the hardest part,” Chelsea said. “The glitter glue just wouldn’t dry.”
She included the child’s name, age and gender. Those interested in donating a gift chose an ornament off the tree and then purchased an appropriate toy.
“It makes me feel good that people helped. I didn’t think we would get half the gifts,” Chelsea said. She was especially concerned that people would take an ornament and not return with a toy, but with only eight ornaments left on the tree she couldn’t be more satisfied.
“I think it’s going better than expected,” Jeff Chilman said.
Toys have been pilling up including trucks, dolls, a stereo, stuffed animals and more. People have also donated money to pay for food packages or food certificates for each family. The Chilmans’ original donation of $100 has grown to more than $440. They will take the money to KB Toys, Wal-Mart, Target and Costco on Sunday to purchase toys and food.
“I’m trying to show her that she can make a difference,” Lydia Chilman said. “She went to Pacific West for kindergarten and first grade, and they taught her about ethics and morals and helping people. That’s probably where it comes from.”
This isn’t Chelsea’s first experience with community service. In second grade, she collected two wagons of canned food for a school food drive, but didn’t stop there. She collected an additional $400 and purchased full Nob Hill turkey dinners for 10 local families. The grocery store reduced the price for the meals because of the nature of the project.
“I like to do stuff for people,” Chelsea said. “My mom inspires me to do it, because it’s nice and makes you feel good.”
Chelsea and other volunteers will wrap the presents and deliver them on Dec. 24.
“I hope they will be happy they got a gift and that it’s a surprise for the kids and the families” Chelsea said. “I hope they wait until Christmas to open the gifts.”
Even though the project is still under way, Chelsea is planning ahead for next year. She hopes to improve the donation drive by starting earlier and letting more people know about the project.
Donations are still appreciated. To donate toys, pick up an ornament located in the main lobby at 8339 Church St. Toys and cash donations can be delivered to Jeff Chilman’s office, suite 207 or the building manager, Vicki Rhodes’s office. To arrange a pick up of donations, call 848-0931.
