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'Our Gifts from the Heart' seeks support December 2011

by Staff Writer: Eliot Duke With Christmas approaching, a nonprofit is partnering with area schools to ensure hundreds of less fortunate children have a happy holiday season.

Fairgrove Family Resource Center is teaming up with Thomasville City and Davidson County Schools to bring its "Our Gifts from the Heart" program to Chair City students who may be facing a Christmas without presents. Now in its 10th year, "Our Gifts from the Heart" helps bring holiday cheer to more than 400 children every Christmas.

"We try to help children who wouldn't have anything for Christmas," said Terri Nelson, executive director of FFRC. "This is an enormous program for us. We are literally stepping out of our comfort zone every year and sponsoring children that we know need help."

"Our Gifts from the Heart" is a program that works directly with all four Thomasville City schools, as well as Pilot Elementary, Fair Grove Elementary, Brier Creek Elementary, Brown Middle School and East Davidson High School. Individual schools refer children to FFRC based on need and family circumstances.

"We let the schools decide what children need the help the most," Nelson said. "We feel like they know the families better than we would. We do not take people who walk in off the street. This is strictly a referral process."

Once a child is selected, a packet is sent home to parents for information regarding clothing and shoe sizes, as well as a few special items the boy or girl may want. Individuals interested in participating can go to FFRC and select a child or the entire family to shop for. Gifts are then brought back to the nonprofit and distributed to the parents in time for Christmas. If someone is willing to help but doesn't have time to go shopping, Nelson said her agency accepts monetary donations that will be used directly for the individual child or family.

"t's an individual program aimed at each child," said Nelson. "It's not a bulk program. It's specifically designed for the needs of a specific child. Some people love to shop, take their children with them and make it an enjoyable experience of giving. Others don't have the time and ask us to shop for them. We make the process very easy."

Thomasville City Schools Superintendent Keith Tobin said, "Our Gifts from the Heart" is a great program that shows students in need how much their community cares. "Any time you can support those who need some help that's what we're all about."

"I believe we're put on this Earth to serve. This program is another way to give back to our community and helps those folks in need. There are of folks out there suffering right now for whatever reason, and this program obviously makes a difference with our children."

Nelson said any student up to age 18 and in school is eligible for the program. Once a child is selected, all the members of their household receive assistance. FFRC also compares its list with other nonprofits to ensure families are not receiving assistance from multiple agencies.

"We hope the community comes together and helps sponsor these children so they have something for Christmas," said Nelson. "When someone sponsors a child from here they can rest assured that this is the only place they're getting help."

For more information, call FFRC at 472-7217.

Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.

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