By Cathy Higgins
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Christmas will come for approximately 700 area families this year, thanks to the efforts of North Baldwin White Christmas.
According to White Christmas Program Director Faye Robinson, the organization has been providing holiday help for North Baldwin residents for more than 60 years.
“For over 61 years, this Christmas Program, and the generosity of the communities, has provided a happy holiday for families with children as well as extra food for the elderly, disabled and homebound,” she said via email.
But the big difference is that the number of clients the not-for-profit agency is serving is significantly higher than in 2010.
“We’ve had about a hundred more this year than last year,” said White Christmas Program Coordinator Deidra Boyington in a telephone interview.
She attributes that spike to the difficult economy.
“And prices are increasing,” Boyington said.
That 700 served breaks down into two categories: senior citizens and families.
“We assist senior citizens at Thanksgiving,” Boyington said.
At Christmas, the organization shifts its focus to the second category.
“We’re serving 175 families this year,” Boyington said.
Within those families are 350 children that reside in north Baldwin County.
“We have had mostly older boys and girls, ages 8 to 12,” Boyington said.
Those families will receive such yuletide treats as toys, clothing and food, which are provided with the help of donation drives conducted by area individuals, schools and civic organizations.
“The schools do food drives for us,” Boyington said. “The (Bay Minette) Fire Department does a toy drive.”
Then over a two-day period, about a dozen volunteers will work to ensure the items get where they need to be.
Boyington pointed out that once those deliveries are made, she’ll go ahead and start looking forward to next year.
“We pretty much prepare 12 months a year,” she said, explaining that post-Christmas sales enable her to get the most out of monetary donations the organization receives.
Boyington added that North Baldwin White Christmas continually accepts monetary donations, which are tax deductible.
For more information, call 937-6764.
