Nearly 400 children will have a joyful Christmas, thanks to the dedication of those who volunteer with the Christmas Project each year.
Distribution of the packages containing clothes, toys and personal items was made Thursday morning from the halls of Brewton’s First United Methodist Church.
“This is wonderful for our family,” Cheryl Hammac said.
Chaiara Taylor, a single mother of three, said her difficulty in providing Christmas for her family was aided through the Project’s generosity.
“This is so good for our family,” Taylor said. “I had received gifts through the project a few years ago and I’m thankful for what they do. Getting these gifts again this year is wonderful for our family.”
A group of volunteers were on hand for the distribution as parents and families collected the holiday goodies.
At the request of Civic League members, Connor Rush and Anna Brown were on hand to help with loading large packages.
“I’m a delivery guy today,” Rush said. “This is really getting me into the Christmas spirit and remember what Christmas is all about — a season for giving and not receiving.”
Coordinated through the Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce, Stephanie Walker works each year to organize the list of recipients and those volunteers who put the packages together.
Although more than 400 names were submitted for holiday assistance this year, Walker said the Christmas Project can’t take care of everyone.
“We have some great people with the Kiwanis and Sportsman clubs that take some of the names from the list each year to make sure everyone is helped,” Walker said. “The project also takes care of elderly with about 100 on that list this year.”
Although shoppers and contributors make the packages possible, other volunteers must work to organize the gifts and be on hand for distribution to families.
Assisting with distribution this year were Julie Reynolds, Robin Smith and Karen Reynolds, who are members of Delta Kappa Gamma, and Connie Rush, June Martin and Betty Clark, who are members of the Brewton Civic League.