Christmas for Kids – It’s that time of year

Christmas is for children... Photo: Jackie Rybeck

ALL FOR THE KIDS — Connie Allen, standing and Jean Delemater, kneeling left visit Ena Derenburger at Turn Key Homes of Maine to collect toys for Christmas for Kids

OXFORD HILLS – Before we know it, Christmas will be upon us.

It’s a time for families to awaken on that special morning to coffee brewing, muffins cooking and the glow on children’s faces as they marvel at the wrapped gifts under the tree.

But in the Oxford Hills, many will rise to an ache in their hearts as their children, who wake with anticipation, find only dried pine needles under the tree.

That is where Christmas for Kids come in.

Christmas for Kids is a program overseen by Rightstart, a non-profit organization, which has numerous programs to help those in need, including the Coat Closet and Christmas for Teens.

According to Connie Allen, coordinator of the program, Christmas for Kids served 700 children and teens in 2009.

“We expect the number will be greater this year,” she explained. “We have been doing this since 1979, and every year we operate with the faith that we will be able to meet the need, and every year, with the help of our wonderful generous community, we meet our goal.”

This is a very tough year. There many different scenarios that describe why families with children are in the situation they are in.

“Many folks have been unemployed for a long time and can’t manage on their benefits if they receive them,” said the coordinator. “Some folks’ benefits have or will run out or had their jobs or work hours cut back. Consequently less money is coming in and costs are rising.”

“Life is very difficult for many of our citizens and their families,” Allen added. “It isn’t always job related, sometimes there are losses due to illness, fire or accidents.”

Allen isn’t alone in helping to put smiles on every area child.

“I have six core people, plus a number who are doing specific helpful things,” she explained. “We have many administrative tasks such as all the record keeping of gifts received, written thank you acknowledgements of gifts, application review to see if a family qualifies for our program as well as shopping, picking up gifts from various locations, filling cases, calling recipients and being present when folks come in to pick up their gifts.”

It is easy to give, and Allen encourages all folks to give to Christmas for Kids however they can.

Gifts may be left at the Chamber of Commerce office in South Paris, Hannaford’s in Oxford, Wal-Mart in Oxford and Community Concepts in South Paris. Hannaford’s has Santa’s sleigh at the front of the store for Christmas for Kids donations. Wal-Mart has Christmas trees with paper ornaments that list a child by gender, age and specific request of that child.

Allen said that all the giver needs to do is imagine a child and enjoy the fun of selecting a toy for them.

“Christmas for Kids serves children from birth to age 12, so the requests are many and varied. Many times we know the interests or wishes of a particular child or we will hear that the child would enjoy any toy for Christmas. We do our best to make each child’s gifts appropriate.”

While Christmas for Kid’s primary goal is to provide Christmas for children who might not receive Christmas gifts, there is one other offering Allen wishes to give these people.

“It is also important to realize that we also provide hope for the family that there is a community that cares about them and understands the struggles they are experiencing.”

The Oxford Hills community, including local individuals, schools, businesses, banks, credit unions, churches, civic groups, nursing homes and individuals who live outside the Oxford Hills community, is very generous.

Rightstart is once again asking for help so that no child is forgotten.

“We rely on this generosity to fulfill our mission. Every gift makes a difference whether it is a toy, homemade mittens and hats or cash donation.”

Money donations can be sent to: Rightstart’s Christmas for Kids, P.O. Box 726, Norway ME 04286. For those who wish to give to Christmas for Teens, please send to Rightstart’s Christmas for Teens, P.O. Box 726, Norway ME 04268.