Share Your Christmas brings the joy of the holidays to those in need
December 18, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
For a countless number of years, one community program in Barry County has been making sure Christmas comes to as many children in Barry County as possible. Annually, the Share Your Christmas program is the only thing that stands between some families and empty stockings.
According to Gail Reed, supervisor of the Cassville branch of the Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC), the program is currently on track to assist 131 families and 342 individual children across Barry County this holiday season.
Share Your Christmas is a yearly toy drive that takes donations and distributes toys to families in need. Families that sign up for the program submit a Christmas wish list from their children with their applications. From there, donors can either donate money or toys listed on the wishlists. After all donations are collected, the toys are distributed to the families to be wrapped in time for Christmas morning.
“Share Your Christmas covers all of Barry County, except for Shell Knob and Monett, who both have their own programs,” Reed explained. “It just amazes me all the people that volunteer and the level of generosity that they have towards these kids at Christmas.”
Local businesses also get involved in the program throughout the year. Many businesses in Barry County have Christmas trees on display that feature these Christmas wish items. These ornaments can be taken and provide inspiration to buy gifts for SYC families. These donations, like most others, are then taken to the OACAC Neighborhood Center in Cassville, located on MO-248, near the Cassville YMCA.
“People can come in, pick a family out to adopt, and they purchase Christmas for that family,” explained Reed. “We take toy donations any time here at the office. Toys, money, whatever can be donated.”
Share Your Christmas has helped countless families throughout the years. One parent of six, who chose to remain nameless, told her story of how the program helped her family through a difficult time.
After the death of her partner and the subsequent incarceration of another, the family’s mother was left in a difficult position where her wages could barely cover her children’s needs.
“My family has pretty much always struggled,” said the mother. “It was very hard. I did everything on my own. It was a really difficult time for us. Share Your Christmas was the only way that my kids got Christmas every year. I couldn’t do it all by myself with all of my kids. It was hard enough to keep food on the table for all six of them.”
It was at this time that she was advised to sign up for the program. She reported that the program was a tremendous success for her family.
“It’s so wonderful to see the happiness that those presents bring,” she continued. “It was a joy to know that those presents were there for them under the tree when I couldn’t do it myself.”
The family’s mother holds a deep respect for the program as well as the volunteers that help to keep it operational.
“They really are here for the people,” she explained. “They really are trying to make a difference in these little kids’ lives and to the parents that are struggling.”
Though she has since been able to move on with her life, remarrying and moving away from Barry County, she highly recommends any parents who are on the fence about seeking aid through the program should sign up.
“There’s nothing better than knowing that your child is going to be happy on Christmas morning,” she concluded. “It’s a shame that people have to go through everything that they have to go through, but that shouldn’t keep them from helping their children be happy.”
Donations were accepted until December 17 for this year, and the donations were separated out by family with extra items purchased to fill lists.
Additionally, families receive a cash voucher to purchase clothing after the toys have been received. They also get a “hygiene basket” assembled by First Baptist Church of Cassville that include things like soaps, toothpaste and other grooming essentials.
“We do a lot of the logistics through the Neighborhood Center here,” said Reed. “We make sure that when people want to adopt a family, or needs a sign up, we have applications here. We also help to make sure that all of the local businesses participating get the ornaments for their trees.”
For any further information, or to inquire about donations, contact the OACAC Neighborhood in Cassville at (417) 847-2140.
Vinnie Roberts
For a countless number of years, one community program in Barry County has been making sure Christmas comes to as many children in Barry County as possible. Annually, the Share Your Christmas program is the only thing that stands between some families and empty stockings.
According to Gail Reed, supervisor of the Cassville branch of the Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC), the program is currently on track to assist 131 families and 342 individual children across Barry County this holiday season.
Share Your Christmas is a yearly toy drive that takes donations and distributes toys to families in need. Families that sign up for the program submit a Christmas wish list from their children with their applications. From there, donors can either donate money or toys listed on the wishlists. After all donations are collected, the toys are distributed to the families to be wrapped in time for Christmas morning.
“Share Your Christmas covers all of Barry County, except for Shell Knob and Monett, who both have their own programs,” Reed explained. “It just amazes me all the people that volunteer and the level of generosity that they have towards these kids at Christmas.”
Local businesses also get involved in the program throughout the year. Many businesses in Barry County have Christmas trees on display that feature these Christmas wish items. These ornaments can be taken and provide inspiration to buy gifts for SYC families. These donations, like most others, are then taken to the OACAC Neighborhood Center in Cassville, located on MO-248, near the Cassville YMCA.
“People can come in, pick a family out to adopt, and they purchase Christmas for that family,” explained Reed. “We take toy donations any time here at the office. Toys, money, whatever can be donated.”
Share Your Christmas has helped countless families throughout the years. One parent of six, who chose to remain nameless, told her story of how the program helped her family through a difficult time.
After the death of her partner and the subsequent incarceration of another, the family’s mother was left in a difficult position where her wages could barely cover her children’s needs.
“My family has pretty much always struggled,” said the mother. “It was very hard. I did everything on my own. It was a really difficult time for us. Share Your Christmas was the only way that my kids got Christmas every year. I couldn’t do it all by myself with all of my kids. It was hard enough to keep food on the table for all six of them.”
It was at this time that she was advised to sign up for the program. She reported that the program was a tremendous success for her family.
“It’s so wonderful to see the happiness that those presents bring,” she continued. “It was a joy to know that those presents were there for them under the tree when I couldn’t do it myself.”
The family’s mother holds a deep respect for the program as well as the volunteers that help to keep it operational.
“They really are here for the people,” she explained. “They really are trying to make a difference in these little kids’ lives and to the parents that are struggling.”
Though she has since been able to move on with her life, remarrying and moving away from Barry County, she highly recommends any parents who are on the fence about seeking aid through the program should sign up.
“There’s nothing better than knowing that your child is going to be happy on Christmas morning,” she concluded. “It’s a shame that people have to go through everything that they have to go through, but that shouldn’t keep them from helping their children be happy.”
Donations were accepted until December 17 for this year, and the donations were separated out by family with extra items purchased to fill lists.
Additionally, families receive a cash voucher to purchase clothing after the toys have been received. They also get a “hygiene basket” assembled by First Baptist Church of Cassville that include things like soaps, toothpaste and other grooming essentials.
“We do a lot of the logistics through the Neighborhood Center here,” said Reed. “We make sure that when people want to adopt a family, or needs a sign up, we have applications here. We also help to make sure that all of the local businesses participating get the ornaments for their trees.”
For any further information, or to inquire about donations, contact the OACAC Neighborhood in Cassville at (417) 847-2140.