I'm not sure when "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music became a holiday favorite, but as a musical theater girl who's always up for a little extra Rogers & Hammerstein in her life, I'm here for it. This year, two lyrics jump out in particular: "girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes," and "brown paper packages tied up with string." Both of them are perfect for the holidays in Hinsdale!
Hinsdale Assembly Ball
Two nights before Christmas, the Hinsdale Assembly hosts its annual ball in which girls in white dresses (think long satin gloves in place of blue satin sashes) will promenade through cotillion figures with their honor guard escorts, all while celebrating an incredible year of service and funds raised for UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale.
From its inception in 1963, the Hinsdale Assembly has raised nearly $3.5 million for the hospital in its efforts. In 2022, the Assembly committed to raising $250,000 over five years to help renovate the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. This year, the hospital was able to open the first wing of the new space as soon as construction was completed, which means families now have an area three times larger to call home while their babies are recovering. The final phase of construction is expected to be completed in early summer 2025.
"I am so incredibly honored to be part of this organization that has done so much good for our community," said Emily Van Houtte, chair of the Hinsdale Assembly. "The group of women that make up the Assembly Board - past and present - are to be commended for their untiring commitment to community, family and service. We are 100 percent volunteer driven - with all aspects of the community service events, social events and the amazing ball - executed by our board members."
In addition to fundraising for this goal, the debutantes and honor guard members spent the year doing service projects in the community, which ranged from clearing invasive plants for the DuPage County Forest Preserve to hosting a "Happy Hearts" Valentine-themed party at Wellness House for children affected by cancer. They distributed food through local food pantries, made blankets for babies in the NICU and played bingo with elderly residents at Bethlehem Woods.
"It truly is a pleasure to get to know these young women and men and see them evolve so much over the short course of such a pivotal year in their lives," Von Houtte said. "We hope their time with us will inspire them to continue in the tradition of dedication to service elsewhere in their lives."
For more information, visit http://www.hinsdaleassembly.org.
Infant Welfare luminaria
While the Hinsdale Assembly Ball is in full swing in one part of town, there's another tradition in the area that deserves a spotlight as well: "Light up the Night" from the Clarendon Hills Infant Welfare Society. This organization has sold luminaria kits (think "brown paper packages tied up with string") for more than 50 years to light the winding streets of Clarendon Hills and Hinsdale on Christmas Eve. The proceeds from the sale go toward supporting Chicago's Angel Harvey Family Health Center's critical needs, including medical care to underserved families.
Sometimes being part of a community looks flashy, appearing in social media all decked out at a gala, and sometimes it looks like joining together with your neighbors to offer support in a small way. Luminaria kits are $8 at Kramer Foods and are available from now through Dec. 24. You can find out more at clarendonhillsinfantwelfare.org/luminaria. I'll be putting some out for the first time this year, breathing in the night air, as "snowflakes ... stay on my nose and eyelashes, and silver white winters ... melt into springs."
Hinsdale is indeed full of my favorite things.
- Allison Peters of Hinsdale
is the paper's society columnist. Readers can email her at
