Murray County Community Christmas is a volunteer organization that started over 30 years ago in Murray County. Originally begun as a food aid to families in need, it soon expanded to include toys and any other items that were available to help our families. With the assistance of our local government, many different churches, civic organizations, clubs and individuals, thousands of families have been served through this program. Our only requirement for assistance is that the family lives in Murray County and tells us they need assistance.
In an attempt to be a helping hand as opposed to a hand out, Community Christmas does things a little differently. For the parents, we offer classes to help give them more tools to deal with life and raising a family. From Basic Finance, Healthy Cooking on a Budget, Internet Safety, Success in Schools, CPR and more, we seek to help our parents learn new skills to improve their lives. After taking the classes, the parents visit our "Toy Store." For two weeks, we build a toy store, stocking it with new toys in the $25-35 retail range. The parents are allowed to come through and pick two toys per child. For each toy they get, we ask for a $3 donation, which helps us to purchase more toys for other children. This also serves the purpose of allowing the parent to retain the pride of knowing that they picked out and bought their children's gifts, they weren't a handout from a stranger. Besides the two toys, they also receive 2 stocking stuffers for each child, a blanket for each family, a minimum of two bags of groceries, a toiletries package (two bars of soap, a bottle of shampoo, a stick of deodorant, a bottle of lotion, toothpaste and a toothbrush for each child), and a gift card provided by the Salvation Army that they can use to help purchase a turkey for Christmas dinner. This year, we are also able to provide wrapping paper to the families thanks to a donation from Belks.
Our service is not limited to families with children. With the assistance of the Murray County Senior Center, we help provide 100 Senior families with food, blankets, toiletries and a gift card. Indirectly, we also help children that are served through DFCS that did not come into the system in time to be aided by their Secret Santa program. Any food that is not distributed to our families at our store go to the Chatsworth Salvation Army Food Bank to be used for Murray County families. We have also provided items to the residents at Chatsworth Health Care Center to help brighten their Christmas.
This truly is a Community effort. So many different organizations and individuals come together to make this all possible. The School System generously conducts a food drive each year which helps make providing food for over 450 families last year possible. With the money raised from this drive, we are able to purchase food boxes from the Chattanooga Area Food Bank for $9.50 to supplements the tons of food donated by the students. We also have many generous individuals who donate money specifically to help purchase this food. During the summer, we are able to purchase blankets at a much reduced price, and a local business warehouses them for us until we need them. Families on food stamps can not use those funds for toiletries, such as soap, shampoo or deodorant. Living Well Pharmacy makes it possible for us to purchase toiletries to provide these items to our families. Many local retailers work with us to let us know when they are putting items on sale or closing out items, or to give us additional discounts when we are purchasing toys from them. All of these things allow us to stretch every dollar donated.
Our goal is to serve the families that come to us with respect. No one is to be looked down upon for needing assistance, any of us could be on the other end needing help. We are proud of the fact that many of the families that we serve come back and volunteer to help serve others. Remember, every child deserves a Christmas, and with their help, and yours, this is all possible.
In an attempt to be a helping hand as opposed to a hand out, Community Christmas does things a little differently. For the parents, we offer classes to help give them more tools to deal with life and raising a family. From Basic Finance, Healthy Cooking on a Budget, Internet Safety, Success in Schools, CPR and more, we seek to help our parents learn new skills to improve their lives. After taking the classes, the parents visit our "Toy Store." For two weeks, we build a toy store, stocking it with new toys in the $25-35 retail range. The parents are allowed to come through and pick two toys per child. For each toy they get, we ask for a $3 donation, which helps us to purchase more toys for other children. This also serves the purpose of allowing the parent to retain the pride of knowing that they picked out and bought their children's gifts, they weren't a handout from a stranger. Besides the two toys, they also receive 2 stocking stuffers for each child, a blanket for each family, a minimum of two bags of groceries, a toiletries package (two bars of soap, a bottle of shampoo, a stick of deodorant, a bottle of lotion, toothpaste and a toothbrush for each child), and a gift card provided by the Salvation Army that they can use to help purchase a turkey for Christmas dinner. This year, we are also able to provide wrapping paper to the families thanks to a donation from Belks.
Our service is not limited to families with children. With the assistance of the Murray County Senior Center, we help provide 100 Senior families with food, blankets, toiletries and a gift card. Indirectly, we also help children that are served through DFCS that did not come into the system in time to be aided by their Secret Santa program. Any food that is not distributed to our families at our store go to the Chatsworth Salvation Army Food Bank to be used for Murray County families. We have also provided items to the residents at Chatsworth Health Care Center to help brighten their Christmas.
This truly is a Community effort. So many different organizations and individuals come together to make this all possible. The School System generously conducts a food drive each year which helps make providing food for over 450 families last year possible. With the money raised from this drive, we are able to purchase food boxes from the Chattanooga Area Food Bank for $9.50 to supplements the tons of food donated by the students. We also have many generous individuals who donate money specifically to help purchase this food. During the summer, we are able to purchase blankets at a much reduced price, and a local business warehouses them for us until we need them. Families on food stamps can not use those funds for toiletries, such as soap, shampoo or deodorant. Living Well Pharmacy makes it possible for us to purchase toiletries to provide these items to our families. Many local retailers work with us to let us know when they are putting items on sale or closing out items, or to give us additional discounts when we are purchasing toys from them. All of these things allow us to stretch every dollar donated.
Our goal is to serve the families that come to us with respect. No one is to be looked down upon for needing assistance, any of us could be on the other end needing help. We are proud of the fact that many of the families that we serve come back and volunteer to help serve others. Remember, every child deserves a Christmas, and with their help, and yours, this is all possible.
Donate
Mail your tax exempt donations to:
Murray County Community Christmas
P.O. Box 1648
Chatsworth, GA 30705
Mail your tax exempt donations to:
Murray County Community Christmas
P.O. Box 1648
Chatsworth, GA 30705