Project Merry Christmas provides happy holiday for children, seniors in need

Again this year, the Marengo County Department of Human Resources is asking for help to make sure children and senior adults in need enjoy a happy Christmas.

Project Merry Christmas helped more than 600 children in 2020. Monetary donations were used to purchase gifts from local businesses using a voucher system, said Lashanda Richardson, Adult Protective Service Supervisor and coordinator for Project Merry Christmas. Churches, civic groups, businesses and individuals also pitched in to provide items for children and seniors in the county.

Project Merry Christmas is sponsored by the Committee for Children & Adults, Abused, Needy and Neglected (CANN). The holiday charity began in 1979 to provide toys and gifts to foster children in Marengo County, Richardson said. Over the years it has evolved and expanded to serve needy children and senior adults.

She listed several ways people in Marengo County can help fulfill Christmas wishes this year, including cash donations, sponsoring children or senior adults, donation of new toys or donation of personal items for senior adults.

Checks can be made out to Project Merry Christmas. To sponsor a child or adult, call Gina Killgore at 334-295-2034. To donate toys, deliver them unwrapped to the DHR office at 701 S. Shiloh St., Linden, no later than Dec. 10.

For more information, call 334-295-2000 or 334-295-2034.