By Rachel Herrington, The Citizen-Times
The holiday season embodies the spirit of giving. But for some Allen County families, struggling to afford Christmas gifts for their children is more of a burden than a joy.
Thankfully, though, two local organizations, along with the community, will once again help parents make the season brighter for the ones who need it most.
Partnering for the fourth year in a row, the Allen County Schools Family Resource and Youth Service Centers (FRC) and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36 (FOP) are sponsoring the Together for Christmas program.
James E. Bazzell Middle School FRC and Youth Services Counselor Angel Clark has outlined registration dates and upcoming opportunities for those who want to donate money or toys for the program.
Registration will again be held at the White Plains Learning Opportunity Center (WPLOC), formerly White Plains Elementary on Franklin Road, Tuesday, Oct. 20 through Friday, Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. or Saturday, Oct. 24 from 8 a.m. until noon. There is no school for students on that Monday, Oct. 19, so parents should make it a point to register on one of those five days, as no late registration will be allowed.
Parents or guardians with children up to the age of 18 who are enrolled in the Allen County School system (if at the appropriate age) are eligible. They must bring with them a copy of each child’s birth certificate or Social Security card, proof of residency in Allen County and proof of income, that includes what is received in disability benefits, child support, wages, food stamps or any other type of income received.
Once parents qualify, they will be given a shopping voucher and must sign up for a day and time to shop. Shopping days will be Friday, Dec. 11 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 12 from 8 a.m.-noon at WPLOC.
The amount of each voucher hasn’t been determined yet, but the community will have several chances to help increase the voucher amount through monetary donations.
“The more money we collect, the more new toys we’re able to buy,” Clark said.
Restaurants will be donating a percentage of their sales to Together for Christmas throughout the month of October. These include Pizza Hut (Tuesday, Oct. 13), Griddles (Wednesday, Oct. 14), and Earl G. Dumplins (Tuesday, Oct. 20), all after 4 p.m. All day, Thursday, Oct. 15, Harper’s Catfish will donate a portion of their sales as well.
If you’d rather donate toys, Scottsville Police Department officers will be collecting new toys for Stuff the Cruiser Wednesday, Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Dollar General Store on the public square and the Dollar General Market on Burnley Road.
Last year’s Stuff the Cruiser toy drive brought in over $2,600 worth in donated toys.
Saturday, Nov. 28, FOP members will be accepting monetary donations for the program during their annual road block on the Scottsville square.
Gently used toys and coats for children and adults are also being collected for the “free room” at WPLOC, which shoppers are welcome to and don’t count in the voucher amount.
Continued support for Together for Christmas is vital to its success, as Clark points out that the program served a record number of over 600 children in 2014 and she expects the same or more to benefit this year. “Each year, the need has gotten to be more and more,” she said.
Donors helped meet this increasing need, as over $9,000 was collected last year for the program. Matched with $9,487 donated from Family Resource and funding collected from the FOP, a grand total of $27,113 was spent on purchasing toys in 2014.
The toy giveaway program has grown along with the increasing number of participants, as it offers a more customized shopping experience for parents. With this system, shoppers are able to pick out gifts their children will like or have asked for, versus the Angel Tree program which began in 2007 locally where strangers shopped for those names on the tree. The former Angel Tree program averaged around 300 children served each year.
Clark wants donors to have peace of mind that every penny collected for Together for Christmas is used strictly for the program. Questions about registration or making a donation? Call Clark at JEBMS at (270) 622-7140.