Applications available for Holiday Assistance Program

To the editor:

The Clay County Holiday Assistance Program is one of the many projects/programs sponsored by the Clay County Cooperative Benevolence Ministry (CCCBM). Prior to the creation of the Thanksgiving and Christmas Assistance Programs there was no coordination between the various social service organizations, private individuals, businesses, and churches within our community. In many cases this lead to some families receiving Thanksgiving food baskets and Christmas gifts from more than one organization and other families were receiving no assistance.

With the development of a county-wide application for Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance and coordinating with the many providers of assistance we have been able to provide some type of assistance during the holidays to more families who are in need. The program is still working towards perfection and after being around for a number of years some groups and organizations are still unaware of the program and its function to work together so the amount of duplications are limited.

The applications for Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance will be combined together so it will cut down on any confusion in regards to when applications are due. When making an application to the Holiday Assistance Program, each applicant acknowledges that this application does not guarantee assistance. In 2016 there were a number of families who failed to return the application for assistance in by the deadline, returned it to the wrong place, just failed to apply, or didn’t turn in the documents that were requested on the form or by the coordinator. Please be sure to turn in applications by the deadline along with other documents if necessary. Applications are available now to schools, agencies, organizations, etc. and can be dropped off at the Division of Child Services, Brazil Housing Authority, or Hamilton Center up to Oct. 6.

Thanks to all of our contributors that helped these families have an enjoyable Thanksgiving and Christmas. Without your help we would not have been able to provide for the families who are in need the most. If your church, agency, organization, business, or even yourself would like to contribute to this county wide effort to coordinate assistance towards families in need for this upcoming 2017 Thanksgiving and Christmas please contact Monica at 765-280-3130.

Monica Wallace,

Holiday Coordinator

Clay County Cooperative Benevolence Ministry