Eva Diggs seldom turns down the chance to work overtime. But when her employer asked if she could spare a few extra hours Sunday night, Diggs had to refuse.
With the start of a new school year just days away, she had to prepare for the children: about 200 of them.
An outdoor back-to-school party every Labor Day complete with boxes full of goodies is Diggs’ gift to children in her West Side neighborhood, where school supplies can be costly for families struggling to make ends meet.
“I like doing this,” said Diggs, 59, as children clamored around her for hot dogs and potato chips. “I like children. Maybe when I get older I’ll stop.”
Diggs was non-stop Monday as she pinned a cut-out star inscribed with different occupations on each child. A nurse for the day. An archaeologist. A dancer. Even a teacher.
The message: Stay in school and away from drugs and gangs.
It was a message well-received by throngs of children who skipped rope, played basketball and ran through the vacant lot. And not even gray skies overhead dampened their spirits.
Just last week, the vacant lot was covered with glass, garbage, weeds and abandoned cars. Diggs, her family and children from the neighborhood transformed the lot, which is next to her house in the 4400 block of West Grenshaw Street and owned by a nearby factory, into a fun-filled playground.
On Monday, it was strewn with picnic tables topped with hot dogs, Polish sausages, spaghetti, potato chips and potato salad. Red, white and blue streamers lined the fence and covered a twisted steel pole that once served as a basketball hoop.
The scene was enough to motivate some partygoers for the coming school year, although others simply relished having a free party.
“I just come up here to have fun,” said Yohuncia House, 13, while stuffing a hot dog in his mouth.
“And to eat up all the food,” his 14-year-old sister, Lavasha, said laughing.
A technician at the Chicago-Read Mental Health Center for 35 years, Diggs works overtime to save money for the party, which she mainly pays for herself. A few neighbors and friends also pitch in.
Days before the party, Diggs passes out about 100 fliers around her neighborhood announcing the back-to-school party. “Cocaine will mess up your brain,” this year’s flier declared, along with the enticement of free notebooks, pens, pencils and food.
Family and friends describe Diggs as one who is always helping others. “She’s just a loving person trying to help kids,” said Diggs’ son, Maurice.
The back-to-school party started 17 years ago with only Diggs’ family.
It eventually expanded to the whole block and, in the past few years, to the whole neighborhood.
“A lot of people wouldn’t do it. They’re not coming out of their own pocket for nothing,” said Patricia Jordan, who brought her five children to the party.
Although Diggs’ five children are grown and gone, she is still involved with helping neighborhood children.
“More mothers need to get involved,” Diggs said. “You’ve got to know where your child is and show some type of interest.”
At the party, Diggs passed out boxes of school supplies. The older children received dictionaries. There also were colorful barrettes in little plastic bags for the girls and toy cars for the boys.
The children gathered around the table with outstretched hands. Some came back for seconds for a brother or a sister.
Or so they claimed.
“Don’t lie, now,” Diggs admonished. “We’re trying to give to everybody.”
Tangilla Hederson, 14, said she comes to the party every year. Henderson, who lives down the street from Diggs, said the usual neighborhood fights don’t happen on Labor Day at Diggs’ back-to-school party.
“It’s beautiful and very important,” said Venice Blackburn, 38, a parent.
“There’s nothing for kids to do. The children look forward to the party every year.”
Rashida Mason, 16, said it seems that many adults have given up on her generation, and that it is good to see that not everyone has lost hope.
“She (Diggs) should be honored,” Mason said. “She came from her heart. Most people aren’t like that anymore. At least she’s trying to make a difference.”
Not all of the children, however, bothered to say `thank you’ after stuffing their faces and toting away arms full of school supplies. Still, Diggs didn’t seem to mind.
“I just love doing it,” she said. “I want to keep kids out of the street.”
