Project Merry Christmas helps children, seniors enjoy the holiday

For 41 years the Marengo County Department of Human Resources has provided toys and clothing for kids in need at Christmas time through its Project Merry Christmas program.

This year is no exception. The program is important especially in light of the strain that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused.

Lashanda Richardson, service supervisor and Project Merry Christmas coordinator for 2020, said the need is just as great this year as in the past.

Deadline for families to register for assistance at Christmas was Nov. 25. At closing, 346 families and 20 seniors were registered with the agency. Since then, more than 70 children ages 2 to 12 have been adopted by individuals and groups in the county, and adults also have been sponsored.

Richardson said if children are not adopted, DHR tries to match the wish list of each child with the toys donated by the community. Seniors adults also provide wish lists, which usually consist of clothing or blankets.

Hundreds of toys are donated by organizations around the county each year. People in Demopolis can drop off new, unwrapped toys at a box located at the Demopolis Police Department.

Assistant coordinator for Project Merry Christmas, Gina Kilgore, said toys are placed in the DHR conference room. Families are selected by need and receive several large bags full of gift items.

Because of the pandemic, families are begin given staggered times to collect the gifts. The pick-up date this year is Dec. 21.

DHR also receives monetary donations. The money is used to purchase vouchers from Wal-Mart to provide items to individuals and families who are not adopted.

Anyone interested in helping DHR fill the wish lists this year may make donations of items or money no later than Dec. 10. Checks or money orders can be made out Project Merry Christmas.

Those who want to adopt a child or adult can contact DHR at 295-2031. Deadline for adoption is Dec. 18.

The program is sponsored by the Committee for CANN (Children and Adults, Abused, Needy and Neglected). It first began as a way to provide toys and gifts to foster children in the county. Over the years the program evolved and expanded to include not only foster children but also other disadvantaged children and senior adults.

In 2019 DHR helped 664 children throughout Marengo County.