More than 300 local children will receive Christmas gifts due to the Christmas Cheer program and community support.
Johnny Brown, a member of the group that began more than 20 years ago, said the program is a “community effort where churches, organizations, businesses, and people get together to help supplement Christmas for families that might need some extra help during these holiday times.”
Brown, of Legacy Insurance & Financial Services, LLC, said 366 children in Patrick County received gifts, and no child was left out this year.
“We had a great tremendous push at the end,” he said.
The program opened registration in August. Those registering were asked to list on the child’s tag three toys the child would like that were not electronics, and whether they would like a coat or a pair of shoes, undergarments, and one outfit.
“Sometimes people don’t want shoes and they don’t want coats, they just do the three toys. So, it really all depends on the family and their needs,” Brown said.
This year, the program partnered with Toys for Tots, a program operated by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, to get help with supplemental toys for children.
“With times like they are right now, not everybody can afford to buy everything on the tag,” Brown said.
The tags were then available for pickup at several locations throughout the county. As shopping is done, the tags and gifts are collected. In some cases, group members sort through toys and clothes that have been accumulated throughout the years and purchased while on sale.
“Then we begin to add to their gift to make sure we round it out,” he said.
Brown said some people bought Tonka trucks, crafting items like beads, and make-up kids for girls this year.
“It all depends, but we’ve seen more of that stuff this year, especially like craft and art supplies, than we have in years past,” he said.
Christmas Cheer accepts donations year-round. Everything collected is spent on youngsters, primarily for Christmas.
However, if there is a house fire through the year that involves children, the program will sometimes help with replacing some of the things the children have lost.
“Everything that we do is all for kids. So, if we do find a need like that in the community throughout the year, we do supplement that,” he said.
Brown said the organization also sent some money to the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office’s Shop with a Cop program.
The group supports that effort “because after our deadline (to register) we begin to send people their way,” he added.
To donate, go to www.patrickcountychristmascheer.com, or mail a check to P.O. Box 222 Stuart, VA 24171 with the memo of “Christmas Cheer.”
For more information, visit Facebook.com/ChristmasCheerofPatrickCountyVA.
