Christmas wishes come true in Tinley Park
BY HANNAH KOHUT Correspondent December 17, 2011 10:56PM
John Waishwell, who was Santa, prepares to deliver presents during the Tinley Wish event in Tinley Park, IL on Saturday December 17, 2011. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 19, 2012 11:09AM
“Oh, my God. ... I can’t believe this,” said Cathy Kowski, of Tinley Park, after she was surprised with a brand new Dodge Stratus as part of the 16th annual Tinley Wish program Saturday morning.
Kowski’s family, along with four other families in need this Christmas, was showered with gifts by Santa himself and about 200 volunteers.
“No, I had no idea about this,” Kowski said, sobbing. “I don’t have a car and with him (her son, Daniel, who is handicapped) going to the doctors. I need one so bad.”
For Brett Lucas’ family, furniture was needed, and furniture they received. The Tinley Wish program gave the family all new furniture, from the living room to the bedrooms. Lucas’ two younger daughters’ faces lit up when a volunteer carried in a handmade dollhouse.
“We’re really, truly blessed with everything that came our way this year,” Lucas said. “We just want to say thank you to everyone.”
Her mother-in-law, Jerry Lucas, was beside herself.
“Tinley Park is one of the few communities that really cares about their people,” she said.
For an 11-year-old girl with leukemia who just got home from the hospital on Friday, it was an early Christmas that might have otherwise not happened.
Abby Skarbek’s father, Joe, said he and his family were overwhelmed when the Tinley Wish program contacted them.
“We asked for a lot of things that Abby was looking for to play with,” Skarbek said. “She was diagnosed on July 21, and we had just gotten home from the hospital late last night. She’s going to the hospital on Thursday for a bone marrow transplant, so this is our Christmas.”
Skarbek choked up and said: “She was nervous she wouldn’t be out of the hospital on time (for this). For us to be home, it’s really great.”
For police officer Dennis Mahoney, who helped create the program 16 years ago, this year’s turnout with gifts and donations was “the best ever.”
“A lot of money, a real lot of money, has been donated this year,” Mahoney said. “As you can see by the presents and gifts we’re giving this year, people were very, very generous with their hearts and wallets this year. Last weekend, we had 150 people wrapping gifts. We’ve never had that before.”
The Tinley Park Wish program takes in nominations each year from the community for families who are in need, Mahoney said.
“The only requirement is that they live in Tinley Park,” he said.
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