On Thursday, the months of planning and work came to fruition as those families were brought together to receive their gifts at a Christmas party at First Baptist Church. I know the Care Center is very grateful to the residents of Saline County for their outpouring of contributions and gifts to make this event possible, said Brenda Burton, the director of the Care Center and an organizer of the Christmas party.
We started planning and receiving donations in October to help out low-income families in Saline County with not only Christmas gifts, but with Christmas dinners too. The Care Clinic, which has been in existence for 23 years, started the idea of the Christmas party to donate food and gifts for low-income families four years ago.
Burton said that as more people find out about what they are doing to help families in Saline County, the more donations they receive and the more they can help those in need. This year the residents of Saline County donated enough toys for 94 children. There were also enough to set aside in case more children in need were found. Burton said many of the children that spend time with the Care Center thought they were just helping serve a dinner at the Christmas party.
Not only did we surprise those children at the party, but we also have a surprise for them on Christmas morning with gifts at the care center, said Burton. Whatever we can do to help them enjoy Christmas … that is our aim. According to Burton, the Village Woodworkers of Hot Springs Village get together at the beginning each year to handcraft 580 wooden toys to donate to the children.