Christmas Help for Low-Income Families in Georgia
In 2008, over 14 percent of Georgia's families had income levels below the national poverty level. While these families struggle to provide basic shelter, clothing and food for their children year round, Christmas is a particularly difficult time of the year. If you need assistance providing Christmas dinner or gifts for your children, there are several nonprofit organizations that are able to help. These organizations also look for donations and volunteers to help meet the needs of low-income families during the holiday season.
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Toys for Tots
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One of the best-known programs for providing Christmas gifts to low-income children is the Marine's Toys for Tots program. Throughout the holiday season, local businesses serve as collection points for donations of new toys from the local community. These toys are distributed to low-income families the week before Christmas. The Toys for Tots program generally only guarantees toys for families that apply prior to October 15th, although it makes efforts to accommodate late applicants based on the amount of toys donated.
Salvation Army
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The red kettles and ringing bells outside stores and banks throughout the Christmas season help fund the Salvation Army's mission to help low-income families and individuals throughout the country. The Salvation Army provides the Angel Tree program to assist families with Christmas gifts for their children ages 12 and under. To apply, the parent or guardian must make an appointment and bring proof of residency and income. An ornament will hang from a tree in a local business or shopping mall, where shoppers can choose a child from the tree and shop for items that child requested.
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Adopt a Family
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Most Georgia churches adopt a local family for the holidays. When the church selects a family to adopt, the congregation often provides gifts of toys and clothing for the children as well as a Christmas dinner for the family to enjoy. It is best to contact your local churches in October, as many churches are only able to adopt a single family.
Georgia Department of Family and Children Services
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The Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) offers a holiday gift program for foster children throughout the state. Your local DFCS office will often have a list of other Christmas charities and churches willing to help during the holidays. Contact your assigned caseworker or call your local DFCS office for an appointment to learn what services may be available based on your income and family size.
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References
- Photo Credit christmas-tree and christmas gifts image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
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For those in Georgia who wish to Adopt a family for Christmas or Sponsor a family for Christmas or donate toys, gifts, baby needs, clothing, shoes, coats or make monetary donations to help provide Christmas for needy children in Georgia please contact Angels with Faith Ministries located In WINDER Georgia 30680.they are a 501c3 non-profit charity & they help 1000s of families in need every year & they receive no funding at all they rely strictly on the donations of Angels which are tax deductible.DFCS, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, Empty Stocking, Goowill, Churches, Schools etc send 100s of families ot them every year & they help everyone who is in true need of Christmas assistance, they are a great group of volunteers & they give 100% of ALL donations that they receive toward helping those in true need.You can choose a family from their needs list to adopt, or sponsor a family through them, they also picklup donated toys new & lightly used & clothes, shoes, coats etc for children in need & also collect donated Turkeys, Hams & FOOD to make holiday Baskets for the needy.their website is angelswithfaithministries.beep.com They start taking families beginning in November & also Angels who want to adopt a family for Christmas in Georgia for 1012 & every year & those who would like ot donate or sponsor a family in need for Christmas.
