There were smiles all around at this year’s Operation North Pole! We’ll have a complete gallery of photos online soon and you can catch a video replay here. Heartfelt thanks to the many, many people who helped to make this year’s event so special!

Now in its third year, Operation North Pole (ONP) is bringing a day of Christmas joy to local children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. ONP’s all-volunteer staff sponsors a fantasy visit to the North Pole via Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest line. This year’s North Pole visit is scheduled for Sunday, December 11^th and Operation North Pole needs your help to make this event a success.

The Dec. 11^th event begins with breakfast with Mrs. Claus and Ronald McDonald for the children and their families at IAMAW Local 1487’s union hall in Des Plaines. The eagerly anticipated journey starts when the children arrive via bus at the Des Plaines Metra station. After boarding the train for a fun-filled ride with Mrs. Claus to Harvard and back, the children return to a North Pole winter wonderland where each child has the opportunity to visit Santa in his workshop and receive gifts from their wish list.

Many of the families of the children selected to participate are devastated by the financial and  emotional burden of dealing with their child’s life threatening illness and its impact on their entire family. For some ONP guests, the North Pole fantasy experience will be their only holiday celebration.

Each family member up to the age of 12 has provided Santa with their holiday wish list prior to the day’s event and  ONP does its very best to fulfill their holiday wishes that day thanks to the generosity of local individuals and businesses. Donations are still needed for this year’s event. To donate to Operation North Pole: visit www.operationnorthpole.org or call 847-813-5387.