As many as 1000 northside residents are expected to turn out for next week’s family Christmas party put on by the Butternut Community Police center. The success of 7th annual gathering illustrates just how much of a positive impact the center has on the lives of children in that neighborhood.
The party’s roots and connection to the community police center go back decades, and it’s continued under the watchful eye of Officer KennBurdick. He’s helped run the Butternut Center since it opened 7 years ago. Back then, he says mainly native northsiders would stop by. Now, the demographics have changed.
“We’re seeing a lot more refugees that are taking part in it, which is a good thing because it’s showing they’re integrating into society and willing to take part and sign up for these things. It’s refreshing, it’s good to see them coming and signing up.”
Burdick says his phone starts ringing the day after Thanksgiving with residents asking when the holiday party is coming…even before they deliver the flyers door to door. The Butternut Center moved a few years ago out of a cramped location at Butternut and Park Street to the Schiller Park Bova center run by the city’s department of parks and recreation. Burdick says they’ve gone from serving 25 to 30 children a day to about 50 with everything from tutoring and meal to community service activities and recreational fun. President RollinMincher says that presents a unique challenge as they try to fill positions on the board and seek volunteers to staff the center.
“ Since our change in location we have expanded greatly. This party is a testament to that, where you get 600-800 people or more. It’s crazy watching them come through the door.”
The Butternut Community Police Center has programs to keeps kids safe, active, and accountable.
“At a young age we want to get kids involved in something meaningful so they wouldn’t even feel the pull or the need to get together with street kids or gangs or anything like that, said KennBurdick”
“And that’s what we’re about,” said Mincher. “They have a hot meal, they have socialization, they have supportand that’s so important to what we’re doing here, making the North Side a vibrant part of the community.”
To volunteer for the December 18th Christmas party, call Officer Burdick at 466-9029 or email cop@butternutcenter.org.
The party will be held from 5:30 to 9 p-m at Grant Middle School.
