Crystal Brown
cbrown@weatherforddemocrat.com
The Santa’s Helpers program would like to thank the community for their generosity this Christmas season.
Contributions made by clubs, churches, individuals and through toy drives ensured nearly 1,600 Parker County children received gifts Christmas morning.
Angel trees were placed throughout town displaying many of the children’s information from clothing size and age to interestets. In total, 633 Paker County families were assisted through the Manna program.
Pat Long, a Manna volunteer who was one of many who contributed countless hours of thei time to Santa’s Helpers, commented on the generous community support, even in these difficult economic times.
“I was overwhelmed by the generosity of the community,” Long said. “On the last night of the gift distribution, we had two different people come in to ask if we needed anything. They took several angels who were still unfilled and brought gifts back early the next morning.”
Long also said that one lady who brought in gifts for her angels, “apologized for not spending more. She said her husband had just lost his job that week, but she wanted to honor her committment. We have very good, thoughtful, and generous people in this community.”
Locations that put out Angel Trees included the Weatherford Police Department, Weatherford City Hall, the Parker County Courthouse Annex, Weatherford ISD, First Financial Bank, Plains Bank, Compass Bank, Crockett Bank, The Bank, Legacy Bank, Mader-Bagley Insurance, Jacy Guynes Insurance, Claire’s Boutique, Tractor Supply, Reflections Salon and Chicken Scratch Bistro.
Local churches, businesses and organizations that assisted with Santa’s Helpers included South Main Church of Christ, All Saints Episcopal Church, Grace-First Presbyterian Church, St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, CSC, Bowie Drive Animal Hospital, Lake Weatherford Community Association and WESA.
Toy Drives were held by the Weatherford Fire Deptartment, Koinonia Motorcycle Group, Dollar General, Camp Fire and the WISD Stuff the Bus program held at Austin, Crockett, Curtis, Martin, Seguin, Wright elementaries, Hall Middle School and Weatherford High School.
The Salvation Army contributed $6,000 to the program and approximately $10,000 was donated from the Kiwanis Club, Parker County Cruisers, Power Service Products and many groups and individuals.
