CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IS IN FULL SWING AT HSP

Things are quite busy here at HSP as we are in the process of our 3^rd distribution day for the needy children and families served by the program. We are still taking phone calls for families to be put on the waiting list and will be trying to fulfill as many families as possible all the way through Friday. 

On Saturday December 15, we gave 150 needy families (with around 500 children) gifts as well as 250 lbs. of groceries total which include 15 varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables, 7 frozen meats, 7 loaves of Pepperidge Farm bread, a turkey, and five boxes of non-perishables weighing 25 pounds each. On Tuesday, 151 needy families, from Lake Park Elementary, visited our center to pick up Christmas gifts for their children; we served an additional 60 needy families by delivering directly to Lake Park as well (about 280 children in all.) Today 202 needy families (with around 350 children) in total will visit our center to pick up Christmas gifts for their children.  150 of these families will take home with them a holiday meal. Over the next couple of days we will also distribute to close to 200 needy families (with, at least, 450 children) on our Christmas waiting list, bringing the total number of families to 750, with 1, 633 needy children served! We have had many volunteers who have been so amazing in helping us serve these families and we would like to thank them.  Without these volunteer’s efforts and the donations from so many people, HSP would not be able to serve all the needy families that we do.  These volunteers were eager to jump in and help no matter what the task was at hand.

            We would like to take the time to thank the groups of Sears Holding that came and brought 15 people to help us pass out these gifts, as well as the Young Men’s Service League and all the other volunteers that helped in the smooth running and success that today has brought. Both these groups as well as the other volunteers came ready to help us with all of our needs.  Thank you to all for braving the elements to help make a difference in the lives of these needy families.  Thanks to them, these needy children will have a cheerful and exciting Christmas.

            Today is the third of our five major distribution days for Christmas Offering 2012; thanks to the support of our generous donors, the final two will be tomorrow and Friday when we will be distributing to the waiting list families that we were able to help.  We would like to thank everyone who has been with us throughout this process as volunteers and donors to make this year a success.  We hope to see everyone next year as we continue to serve the needy children and families of the project.  HSP hopes that everyone enjoys their holiday.