The Consumer Advisory Council at Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement is holding the annual “Gift Giving from the Heart” campaign. They are asking area agencies, departments and individuals to help purchase Christmas gifts for children.
Organizer Lecia Whiteside said this year’s list has grown to 45 local families, with 102 children.
She said some of the groups that participated in the past included churches, local bank employees and school groups. SAFE also participates by sponsoring one of the families.
“We interview our families and match them up with the organizations,” she said. “We ask people to do this in lieu of exchanging gifts with themselves, if they do that at their work place.”
The group coordinates their effort with other like-minded groups, such as “Toys for Tots” and “Shop with a Cop,” to ensure the maximum number of families are reached.
After parents are interviewed, they submit wish lists of gifts for the children to the council, with no presents more than $20. The lists are then passed along to the sponsor group to purchase.
Whiteside said all gifts are collected by Dec. 17 and then distributed to the families.
“What we want to do is allow the parent to have Christmas with their children,” she said. “We do not want the kids to know that their parents needed assistance this year.”
Last year the council furnished gifts for 43 families, with 90 children.
For more information on becoming a sponsor, contact Lecia Whiteside by Nov. 29 at the SAFE Family Services Center by calling 256-245-4343.
Contact Matt Quillen at mquillen@dailyhome.com.
