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Volunteers work together to provide gifts, necessities for Liberty kids
By SAMANTHA PHILLIPS
LIBERTY
Sixty children from E.J. Blott Elementary will be surprised with a few gifts – a new outfit, book, board game and, in some cases, a coat or boots – on Christmas morning thanks to a group of volunteers and community donations.
At least a dozen volunteers gathered at Church Hill United Methodist Church on Friday to wrap almost 300 toys for the children.
The E.J. Blott Holiday Kids Project has been operating for more than 30 years.
Teachers from kindergarten through fourth grade tell project coordinators which of their students have a need for donations.
In addition to the gifts, parents also get gift cards to provide holiday meals for their families.
Sharon Wathen, a project coordinator, said the volunteers set up trees at the church and at local businesses with tags of the children’s names and what the they want for Christmas. People take a tag and drop gifts off at the church.
“It’s awesome,” Wathen said. “Everyone who takes a tag from the tree is going above and beyond for these children. They purchase things as if they are buying for their own kids.”
At least 100 people are involved in the project every year, between buying gifts for the children and providing gift-wrapping materials. At least 25 local businesses also contribute to the project every year.
The project was started decades ago by a teacher, Gretchen Reed, who realized some of her students’ families couldn’t celebrate Christmas.
Shirley Grimm of Liberty is a volunteer for the project and a member of the church. She said she has been involved with the project since it began.
“I do it so kids who don’t get a lot can have a nice Christmas,” Grimm said. “It brings me joy. This is a day to get involved and meet people, because people from outside the church come to help, too.”
Susan Moraco of Girard is also a volunteer and member of the church. She said some families ask for basic necessities such as soap for their children’s packages.
“My church does a lot of worthwhile projects,” Moraco said. “It makes you feel good to so something for someone else. Some of these kids don’t have anything, and they don’t ask for anything unreasonable.”
Parents will pick up the packages for their children Friday.
Sixty chairs filled with gifts wrapped in bright, cheerful colors await them. The parents can choose if the packages will be signed from them or Santa Claus.