Tinley Park Couple Donates Gifts To Domestic Crisis Center

TINLEY PARK, IL — A Tinley Park couple teamed up with a local crisis center to bring holiday joy to women and children in need this Christmas Eve.

Chuck Arrington and his wife Carol have been providing gift donations to residents at Crisis Center for South Suburbia for the past four years. The domestic violence shelter temporarily houses women and children who escape their abusers and is often busy during holidays, officials from the shelter told Patch.

Arrington started donating around his Tinley Park home over a decade ago after a divorce left the man alone on holidays while his children were with their mother. Arrington said he wanted to help others who were lonely or less fortunate during the traditionally happy time.

"It made me feel good to help others," he said. "I grew up poor on the Southwest Side and I know what it's like to have little or nothing on Christmas Day."

Arrington started by dropping off food and clothes at homeless shelters in Chicago, but after he met his current wife, Carol, the two turned their attention to neighbors in need.

Now, the couple are likened to Santa and Mrs. Claus by Crisis Center employees.

"Chuck reaches out to us each year to find out the ages and sizes for every adult and child staying at the shelter on Christmas Eve," said Lorri Nagle, director of development for the Crisis Center.

He and Carol then bring new presents for each person and sometimes gifts for the staff as well. The donations are especially important on Christmas Eve, said Nagle, as many women and children are driven out of their houses due to the financial stress and substance abuse that comes with the holiday season.

"The holidays can be a very challenging time for a victim living with their abuser. Increased financial stress, coupled with alcohol consumption, can often lead to an amplification in violence," Nagle said in a news release. "But for the brave women and children who sought safety and peace in our shelter this Christmas Eve, it was a warm and welcoming experience thanks to the kindness of Chuck and Carol Arrington."

The Crisis Center for South Suburbia services over 2,500 adults and children each year with free shelter, counseling and legal aid through securing Orders of Protection.