Recap · 2017
The First A Day of Giving: December 16, 2017
- Date
- Saturday, December 16, 2017
- Time
- 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Families served
- 80 (Peoria Times)
- Place
- Fire Station No. 1 parking lot, Old Town Peoria, in space provided by Lucidi Distilling Co.
- Organizers
- The Holiday Squad: Brian Morris (We Fix Ugly Pools), David Bell (Advant-Edge Curbing and Landscaping, today AE Outdoor Living) and Dave Delvecchio (ABD Signs and Printing), with AFSCME Local 3282
- Sponsors
- Divine Auto Glass, Peoria Ford, Cranmore Flooring, Midwest Food Bank
- Volunteers
- Sponsors’ staff, friends and families. AFSCME members. Peoria Fire-Medical cadets. A Peoria Police sergeant.
How it came together
The idea was David Bell’s from the start, and it grew out of Hurricane Harvey relief. While a volunteer team was in Houston, Dave Delvecchio kept collecting at home, and the donations filled a warehouse, which gave them the supplies to make it happen.
The Holiday Squad planned the giveaway toward the end of November 2017 and had about a week to spread the word. Their goal: give away a 300-square-foot warehouse packed with donations to Peoria families who needed them. On event morning, volunteers started around 3:30 a.m., moving boxes from a warehouse on Bell Road to the fire station lot.
What families received
Clothing, shoes, scarves, blankets, diapers, baby food, boxed cereal and other food, toothbrushes, soap, bottled water and toys, all free. Kids could pick a toy, decorate Christmas cookies, get their faces painted and visit Santa.
What people said
“It’s better to give than receive, because it always comes back.”
The Peoria Times described the three founders as “the heart, soul, brains, and muscle behind the event.” “Thus, A Day of Giving was born.”
The Peoria City Council recognized the event at its January 9, 2018 meeting.
A few years later, Dave stepped away for health reasons. Brian and David carried A Day of Giving forward and later formed Purposeful Giving Alliance. It has come back every December since, from 80 families in 2017 to registrations representing 2,268 family groups in 2025.
Sources
- Peoria Times, Dec 22, 2017, p. 2 (print)
- Peoria Times, Dec 22, 2023
- azfamily, Sept 14, 2017 (archived)
- City of Peoria Council minutes, Dec 12, 2017 and Jan 9, 2018