Stone County Christmas Assistance Program brights the holidays for area children
December 24, 2020
Volunteer Lisa Gardner assists mother of four, Vanessa Davis, of Reeds Spring at the Stone County Christmas Assistance Toy Store on Dec. 13 in the New Testament Church.
Cindy Hembree
Carrie Padilla and Amanda Funk, co-directors of the Stone County Christmas Assistance Program are still busy helping area families with their Christmas needs. The two ladies had short notice to organize the program since Love INC closed down in late August. Padilla and Funk designed the program with three options for parents in need to choose from.
Parents were given the choice to Shop with a Hero, be adopted by an outside source or to shop at the program’s toy store. The toy store, which was housed in the New Testament Church, in Reeds Spring, was inundated with toys estimated to be in the thousands.
For the organization’s first year, 54 children took part in the Shop with the Hero project on December 3, while 271 children were adopted by outside sources. The majority of parents shopped for their children at the New Testament Church.
Volunteers walked with the parents through the toys store and assisted them by pulling a wagon to carry all the items. During the two-day event, the program was able to supply 300 children with brand new Christmas toys.
“We have been so blessed by so many people and businesses in this area,” Padilla said with tears welling up in her eyes. Walmart donated two vans full of extremely discounted toys. There were several drop off boxes placed around Stone County businesses for people to donate toys as well. Monetary donations were made by Plumlee Construction, $500; White River Electric, $2500; The Skaggs Foundation, $5200; among other private and smaller donations from individuals.
The remainder of the toys from this year will be placed in a storage unit until next year. The remaining funds will be put into an account to also be utilized for the 2021 Christmas season.
Carrie Padilla and Amanda Funk, co-directors of the Stone County Christmas Assistance Program are still busy helping area families with their Christmas needs. The two ladies had short notice to organize the program since Love INC closed down in late August. Padilla and Funk designed the program with three options for parents in need to choose from.
Parents were given the choice to Shop with a Hero, be adopted by an outside source or to shop at the program’s toy store. The toy store, which was housed in the New Testament Church, in Reeds Spring, was inundated with toys estimated to be in the thousands.
For the organization’s first year, 54 children took part in the Shop with the Hero project on December 3, while 271 children were adopted by outside sources. The majority of parents shopped for their children at the New Testament Church.
Volunteers walked with the parents through the toys store and assisted them by pulling a wagon to carry all the items. During the two-day event, the program was able to supply 300 children with brand new Christmas toys.
“We have been so blessed by so many people and businesses in this area,” Padilla said with tears welling up in her eyes. Walmart donated two vans full of extremely discounted toys. There were several drop off boxes placed around Stone County businesses for people to donate toys as well. Monetary donations were made by Plumlee Construction, $500; White River Electric, $2500; The Skaggs Foundation, $5200; among other private and smaller donations from individuals.
The remainder of the toys from this year will be placed in a storage unit until next year. The remaining funds will be put into an account to also be utilized for the 2021 Christmas season.