District 200 Hosts "Pack the Gym" Night to Benefit Christmas Sharing Program

Come cheer on the Community Unit School District 200 Special Olympics basketball teams and benefit your community this holiday season! Today, Tuesday, Dec. 7, CUSD 200 will host a "Pack the Gym Night" to benefit the Christmas Sharing Program.

The Christmas Sharing Program is a community-based program that serves families within theCommunity Unit School District communities. Churches of various denominations in the Wheaton and Warrenville communities, along with schools, scouts, youth groups, libraries, and local businesses currently staff and support this all-volunteer effort. Each family in need can select clothes, toys, and food at no cost.

The Christmas Sharing Program assists needy families in our communities and nearly 90% of thefamilies that sign up for the program are District 200 families. Last year, 947 families that consisted of 4,275 people, benefitted from the Christmas Sharing Program. The program has reported to CUSD 200 that 1104 families have signed up for the program this year- a 14% increase from 2009. To meet that need, CUSD 200 and the Special Olympics are ramping up our collection efforts by hosting the Pack the Gym Night.

Special Olympics athletes are CUSD 200 students with disabilities or special needs. All athletes are either current students within grades 6-12 or in the district's Transition Program. The Transition Program is for students with disabilities between the ages of 18-21 who graduated from a CUSD 200 high school. 

The program is designed to help these students "transition" out of the school and into a more independent lifestyle. The program focuses on employment readiness, independent living skills, and other skills that students need to function and live more independently in thecommunity. Students are eligible to participate in the program up to 22 years of age.

Tuesday, December 7th's the Pack the Gym Night at Hubble Middle School is the last home game where both the orange and blue basketball teams play. The event is open to the public and attendees are asked to bring a suggested donation of a non-perishable food items or a gift suitable for a teenager to serve as admission to the game. Cash donations are welcomed as well.

According to Superintendent Dr. Brian Harris, "School District 200 is very excited to host this event. This event is a fun way to celebrate our Special Olympic athletes while making a difference in our community."

 6 p.m.—blue team

7 p.m.—orange team