In 2005, members from the faith community, service organizations, area agencies, and the school district met to coordinate adoption of families during the Christmas season. Originally it was named Christmas Hands of Help and Hope, but several years ago the name was shortened to Christmas Helping Hands.
The program is for kids with a Chanute address, ages birth to 18 (must currently be in school) and only for those children living in the home on a permanent basis.
Applications have been mailed to families, with the deadline for applications as Monday, Nov. 3. The committee then begins working on filling out angel cards and getting them ready for adoption. Distribution of angels is then done through the various organizations. Gifts are bought, wrapped and returned to the place of contact. For those angels not adopted, the Helping Hands committee buys gifts.
Mid December, all the gifts are returned where they are checked in, sorted and bagged by families with parents picking them up Thursday, Dec. 18.
This program is completely operated by volunteers with all money received being spent on the families. In the last 10 years the organization has served 768 families, 2,143 kids with a total of 6, 429 gifts. Each kid receives three gifts, containing clothing and a toy.
There are times in life when everyone needs a helping hand and for those families, Christmas Helping Hands is that help. For families who have not received an application, they may be picked up at Jennifer Dietsch State Farm, 1518 S. Santa Fe. For anyone wishing to donate, donations may be sent to Christmas Helping Hands, c/o Presbyterian Church, 15 N. Steuben, Chanute, KS, 66720.
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