Gifts of food, toys, and clothing help to brighten Christmas for families
by Jennifer Kneuss
December 20, 2010
304
There are 1400 families, including 2,000 children, for whom Christmas will shine a little brighter this year.
Janet Downin, director at Tuscarawas County Council for Church and Community (T-4-C) explained that this years Share a Christmas program was made possible by many different volunteers, many of whom went above and beyond for those less fortunate.
There was a volunteer at the toy area, a college student named Julie, who had taken Spanish, so she came to the toy distribution to be an interpreter. As it turned out, two Guatemalan women came to pick up toys, and Julie was assisting them. She found out that they had walked about two miles to pick up their toys in frigid weather. She ended up volunteering to drive them home.
Downin said that the program provides new underwear, socks, mittens, hats, and scarves for children.
We had one lady, Velma Truman of Dover, that that knitted at least a hundred hats, and they were just beautiful. She is already starting to knit things for next year. Last year she knitted scarves. Velma knits these all year long.
The kids at Tuscarawas Central Catholic) Elementary in Dover had a read-a-thon throughout the school, continued Downin. The kids, for the amount they read, earned points. They chose to donate half of those books to Share a Christmas.
The director also noted that many local high school students volunteered with the sorting and distribution efforts.
We had students from Buckeye, Dover, Garaway, Indian Valley, Strasburg, and New Phila help us. We could not do the distribution without the students, she stated. Children 12 and under receive toys, a combination of new and gently used items. Each child gets at least one new toy, and one gently used one. They have the option of getting as many books as they want. They also get a doll, or ball of some kind.
Share A Christmas also provided food boxes to local families, with volunteers spending three days processing, sorting, and assembling the boxes, with the fourth day for pickup.
The boxes are filled according to family size, and include a meat voucher. Other agencies help, too. The Salvation Army gives boxes to 500 of the families, and other agencies and service clubs help provide for families, too. Share A Christmas provided 563 boxes. I couldnt begin to name all of the canned food drives around the area who provided a lot of the food. It is heartwarming to see all of the things that people give.
My wife and I say it wouldnt be Christmas if we werent here helping with distribution, said seven year volunteer Jim Schwartz. I cant believe that in this area, there is so much hunger. We drive by the food bank, and see the lines. It is distressing to think that so many people need this.
I am volunteering here to give back to my community in a positive way, said volunteer Ryan Kirkpatrick as he carried boxes of food.
Fellow New Philadelphia high school student Andrew McKnight was one of many other students helping.
If youve never been on the receiving end, you cant understand how good this is for people, he said.
Approximately $90,000 worth of vouchers to a local store were also provided, with varied amounts according to family size and need, were also provided. Families could use these to purchase clothing, shoes, and food.
Right now, we have collected $120,000, but our goal is $140,000, to cover all our expenses, commented the director. People can still donate by sending a check to Share A Christmas, c/o T4C, at 1458 5th Street NW, New Philadelphia, explained the Share A Christmas director. Our number is 330-343-6012.
Downin summed up the Christmas giving experience. I am just overwhelmed with gratitude at the generosity that the community has demonstrated in helping the needful families of our county this Christmas.
