The holiday season is right around the corner, and once again we are asking for your help and support with our Food Drive and Operation Santa Claus. The Food Drive enables us to provide emergency assistance to needy families in Crenshaw County by assisting them with canned goods and non-perishable food items. Operation Santa Claus is our community Christmas program and assists many needy families, from children to the elderly, in our community. In past years, with the help of people such as you, the program has provided new toys and clothing to needy children in Crenshaw County, as well as gloves, socks, fruit and blankets to the elderly and handicapped who would not otherwise be remembered during the Christmas Season.

You may participate in the Food Drive by donating non-perishable food items or making cash contributions that will be used to purchase perishable and non-perishable items. Food can be delivered to our office located beside Crenshaw Community Hospital on Highway 331 South. Financial contributions can be mailed or brought to our office.

You may participate in the Community Christmas Program by either sponsoring a child or children for whom you purchase gifts of clothing and toys, or by contributing money so that we can purchase these gifts. For groups or individuals who wish to sponsor a family or elderly individual, we will assign families as requested. The cash donations that are received will be used to purchase clothing and toys for those children not sponsored by individuals. We are asking that these donations be received by December 14, 2009, in order to prepare for the distribution of gifts.

Honorary and Memorial gifts are also accepted for both of these projects. An acknowledgement will be mailed to the person or the family of the person your gift is designated for.

We hope that you will participate in these projects and enable the needy of Crenshaw County to have a happier holiday season. If you have any questions, or need additional information, please contact Alicia Sexton or Jennifer Butts at the Department of Human Resources at (334) 335-7000.

Thank you for your participation and contribution. Without the support of the community, these projects would not be successful.

Sincerely,

Alicia Sexton

LBSW

Crenshaw County DHR