The Christmas Helping Hands group in Chanute is still looking for people to buy gifts for kids. You may have noticed the pink and blue tags hanging on some Christmas trees at businesses and churches in Chanute.
Marilyn Lock, coordinator of the Helping Hands committee, said at last count there were 81 families and 197 children to buy for.
She said 16 organizations have adopted 164 kids. There are still about 34 kids who need adopted.
The deadline to adopt is Friday, Dec. 13, as all gifts must be turned in on Monday, Dec. 16.
The committee goes shopping for any angel that is not adopted. Each child receives three gifts, two clothing items and one toy, each ranging in price from $20 to $30.
In 2005, members of the community, service organizations and agencies and school personnel met to coordinate adoption of families during the Christmas season. The children helped must have a Chanute address, live in the home permanently and can range from newborn to age 18 and in school.
Planning starts in August. Letters and applications are mailed to families, and once the deadline is met, committee members start filling out angel cards on what each child wants. Cards are then distributed to various organizations the week before Thanksgiving. The week before Christmas, all the gifts are brought in and are checked in and sorted by families.
This year Helping Hands will end up with about 600 gifts. Once each family is completed, the gifts are bagged for pickup.
Coats are purchased and distributed to those who need them before Thanksgiving.
Christmas Helping Hands is a volunteer group with one coordinator and eight to 10 helpers. In the last 10 years, the committee has served 747 families and 2,113 kids.
If anyone wants to adopt an angel, the Jennifer Dietsch State Farm office has some left to adopt. If you’d like to donate money to purchase gifts for those not adopted, drop the money off at the State Farm office or mail it to the Presbyterian Church at 15 N. Steuben in Chanute.
