McHenry County’s Adopt-a-Sailor program has put out a last-minute appeal for contributions to underwrite the cost of busing 100 recruits from Great Lakes Naval Training Center to McHenry County homes for Christmas.
According to one of the program’s organizers, the group is about $800 short of what is needed for the two buses.
“We have the sailors and we have the homes. All we need are the buses,” according to Kathy Mattsson of Cary.
Now in its 13th year, the program pairs up sailors with volunteers who open their homes for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. This year’s Thanksgiving dinner, which brought 150 sailors to McHenry County homes was a success, Mattsson said, but drained the project’s available funds.
“If we could get two companies or service clubs to donate $400 apiece, we could get those 100 sailors to the 50 families who are looking forward to sharing their Christmas with them,” Mattsson said.
Mattsson said she would welcome any offers of help at 847-516-2454.
