The spirit of the holiday season is alive and well in Lisle, especially with downtown merchants who are doing their part in various ways to demonstrate service to the community.
Giving thanks by giving back' is my personal motto," said Christina Skarbek, proprietor of the Tina's Closet clothing boutique.
The daughter of Polish immigrants who survived a Nazi concentration camp, Skarbek was raised in an atmosphere of giving and helping. For 25 years, she has set an example for other local businesses by giving away turkeys at Thanksgiving and making her business a year-round drop-off point for donations to the Lisle Township food pantry.
"Helping others is a second nature to me because that's how my parents were. My mom would take care of the disabled man who lived across the way from us," Skarbek said.
A school teacher once asked if Skarbek could help children at the West Pullman Elementary School, on Chicago's far south side, because many did not have winter coats, hats or gloves.
She responded.
"I did one better. I ordered a wholesale box of hats, gloves and scarves and had them shipped directly to the principal of the school. When someone comes to me and asks me to do something, I never refuse."
Children of the school sent her a homemade thank-you card, which she framed.
"When I go across the street and ask some of the other businesses to help, nobody ever says no," Skarbek said. "People in Lisle want to help. That's why this town is truly a service community."
Weldon Hardware Supply in Lisle is a drop-off point for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots holiday drive, something owner Bill Weldon has been doing for three years.
"Every year it gets a little bit better with donations," Weldon said. "This town has a giving spirit, it really does. As much as we can do for the community, to give back, we're going to try and do."
Another Lisle business, Evviva! Bar & Eatery, is collecting toys for the Toy Express Children's Charity, a nonprofit that distributes donations to children in the western suburbs.
"Ninety percent of their toys go to kids in DuPage County," said manager Lisa Flores. "We'd been doing Toys for Tots for years, and it's been great. I mean, helping kids in any way is important, right? But keeping it local is important too."
Flores said her business also sells holiday ornaments with the money being used to purchase more gifts for the toy box.
"With the Toy Express charity, the kids get to choose the toys themselves, and we really like that," she said. "What we see here in town is that some people are still struggling with the economy, but they still come in and donate. The rest of the community should embrace that spirit."
