Christmas Is For Kids drive now underway
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

County residents can help provide a merry Christmas for underprivileged children through the Gaffney Ledger's annual fundraiser "Christmas Is For Kids."

The generosity of local residents allowed 119 children in Cherokee County to enjoy a better Christmas in 2006. The Ledger is now accepting donations for this year's fundraiser.

For every $100 donated, a child will have the opportunity to go on a shopping spree on Saturday, Dec. 15, at Wal-Mart to select the toys and clothes they want for Christmas.

Children are selected to participate by the Department of Social Services, the Salvation Army and the Cherokee County Disabilities and Special Needs Board.

Children receive help in making their Christmas gift selections from members of the Altrusa Club and Sub Deb of Gaffney, a community service organization for high school girls. Sub Deb had 16 club members and three adult sponsors help with last year's shopping.

The experience was a highlight of the year for many Sub Deb club members.

"It was a very rewarding experience. It really brought tears to a lot of the girls eyes while helping the children select gifts from their wish lists for Christmas," said Carol Gallman, one of the sponsors of Sub Deb. "When our seniors wrote essays for our Sub Deb scholarship last spring, every girl mentioned 'Christmas Is For Kids' as a community program that really mattered to them. The girls feel really blessed and are looking forward to helping with the fundraiser again this year."

The Gaffney Ledger began "Christmas Is For Kids" in 1989. An estimated 1,600 children in Cherokee County have been helped since then.

The Ledger will accept donations to "Christmas Is For Kids" through Dec. 31. All donations are tax deductible.

Donations can be sent to "Christmas Is For Kids" c/o The Gaffney Ledger, P.O. Box 670, Gaffney, S.C. 29342 or brought by The Ledger office at 1604 W. Floyd Baker Boulevard.