The Christmas season is approaching and Operation HELP is preparing for its annual Christmas campaign. Each year our sponsors and volunteers work together to provide a Christmas experience for families with children in the Hudson school district. The campaign has operated for close to three decades and received support from numerous corporate sponsors, local business and individuals sponsors and generous volunteers.
Each year the organization seeks one or two designated grants of $2000-3000 dollars to cover the partial cost of the grocery gift cards for each family. In 2006 the organization provided Christmas campaign provisions for 103 families. According to HELP board president Monica Weekes, for many of these families the Operation HELP provisions are the only Christmas gifts that the family enjoys.
Each child is provided with several gifts including needed clothing items, along with a hat and a pair of gloves or mittens. A gift is also included for the children to give to each parent. Miscellaneous items such as a quilt, towels, and personal hygiene items are also included along with a gift card for Christmas dinner groceries. Weekes said that over the years the HELP Christmas Campaign has become an important activity at the holiday season in Hudson.
“Employees can join together to choose just the perfect gift for each child in their selected family, or a sponsoring family may allow their children to select gifts for a Christmas Campaign family. We encourage everyone involved in the Christmas Campaign to open their hearts to those less fortunate in our community.” The campaign will run from Dec. 10-13.