Andalusia Community Christmas gave 284 gifts for Christmas for local children and teens in the primary schools Andalusia, Pleasant Home, Red Level, and Straughn this year.
Chairperson Gail Hayes expressed gratitude to the Board of Directors and workers for their contribution to making the event this year successful.
“It is incredibly satisfying to know that the community showed this kind of kindness,” Hayes said. “So many people took part by purchasing gifts, donating funds, registering children as well as formatting databases, arranging and collecting packages, and ensuring that every child was registered to purchase gifts for their children.”
A Christmas celebration was held on the evening of Friday, Dec. 15 on Kiwanis Community Center. Kiwanis Community Center.
“We were able to hold our annual Christmas celebration thanks to a variety of individuals including civic clubs Andalusia High school, LBW Community College students, foundations, businesses and other organizations who made a difference to the lives of many children, as well as their families during the Christmas season. We are looking at doing it again the next time around,” Hayes added.
A volunteer Jan White also offers help during the annual celebration each year.
“It requires an team of volunteer volunteers in order to create Andalusia Community Christmas happen. Garrett Davis, youth minister at Carolina Baptist Church, shared the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2. It was the Andalusia Full Gospel Church Puppet Ministry entertained children with music. They also performed for the City of Andalusia Fire Department put a firetruck on display inside Kiwanis Building. Kiwanis Building for the children to look at. The LBWCC’s Blue arrived to greet youngsters and have fun at the celebration. the Covington County Cowgirls lent an adorable pony that the kids could look at and snap a photograph with. Pizza was served and a great evening was shared by the entire group.” White said.
The Pilot Club from Andalusia and the Junior Service League Andalusia also took part in the event. Each child who received an electric bicycle at the party was given a free bike helmet by the Pilot Club. It was the Junior Service League offered children who attended the event an opportunity to pose for photos with Santa.
Andalusia Community Christmas is a non-profit, annual program supported by the businesses, residents and civic organizations of Andalusia. The program helps families facing financial hardship who reside within the Andalusia, Straughn, Red Level and Pleasant Home School districts by offering toys and clothes for children between the ages of 2 and 10 years old.
The registration was held on November. 4, for this year’s contest. The guidelines must be followed to allow children to be able to participate each year.
Contributions tax-deductible can be sent in the mail to Andalusia Community Christmas, Inc., P.O. Box 1525 Andalusia, AL 36420. FEIN# 20-0211790
The article Galerie: Andalusia Community Christmas provides presents to children in the area was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
