Thanks to neighbors like you, in 2022 Community Christmas provided Christmas gifts, utilities, and housing assistance totaling $93,552 to 413 children from 175 families.
Your help also provided diapers to our youngest ones, and backpacks and books for our school aged kids.
Our families are so grateful for your support!
Our overhead was 1% and was for PayPal fees, postage, State of Georgia incorporation fee, Charity Tracker dues, and paper and envelopes. We are an all-volunteer non-profit organization registered with the State of Georgia and the Internal Revenue Service, and have been serving children living in Oglethorpe County since 1996.
Greetings!
Thanks to neighbors like you, in 2022 we provided Christmas gifts and assistance plus emergency funds throughout the year totaling $93,552 to 412 children from 175 Oglethorpe County families. The amount of aid needed was up 16% from 2021, and the number served increased by 94 children. Our volunteers’ hard work kept the organization’s overhead below 1%. We are an all-volunteer non-profit registered with the State of Georgia and the Internal Revenue Service, serving children living in poverty in Oglethorpe County since 1996.
Our goal is to ensure ALL children in our community have a safe place to live, with water and electricity, clothing, and a few fun gifts to experience God’s amazing love at Christmas. We are proud to partner with our local school system, Family Connection, Recreation Department, The Department of Family and Children’s Services, Sheriff’s Department, EMS, local churches, other charities, businesses, clubs, and individuals. We are members of Charity Tracker, which unites charities in the Athens area to ensure the assistance provided is given responsibly and accounted for across agencies. We have been able to tailor our assistance in ways that are most beneficial and effective.
• Families approved for assistance receive a check or online payment made payable to a qualifying bill using the crucial funds you provide. Every donation is important. Emergency funds are available year-round as needed.
• New fun items chosen from the items you donate through our toy drives make Christmas magical for each child.
• Your donations of clean, gently used clothing, books, toys, sporting goods, baby items, and more are offered as a “free yard sale” to all those qualifying for assistance on the day they pick up their Christmas toys. (Contact us for that.)
• Diapers are given throughout the year to keep our youngest ones clean and comfy through our partnership with the Athens Area Diaper Bank.
In addition to keeping this whole train running and coordinating with everyone, our Co-chair Shirley Dillard (706-540-0785) manages storage space for used furniture, appliances, and other household goods to help families. (Yes, she’s amazing!!!).
Your help is needed and greatly appreciated. The sooner, the better! Financial donations can be made online with the PayPal donation button at the bottom of our webpages, dropped off at The Commercial Bank in Crawford, or mailed to the address on our contact us page.
Gifts of new toys and other fun items for children ranging in age from infants to high schoolers can be dropped off before December 13th at any of the area schools, at the Crawford branch of The Commercial Bank, Dollar General between Crawford and Lexington, Oglethorpe Animal Clinic, or with Toys for Tots. Contact April Moore to volunteer to help with set up and distribution. Email her at amoore@oglethorpe.k12.ga.us
With Peace, Hope, and Joy,
Catherine Bowen Drewry
Co- chair, Community Christmas of Oglethorpe County, Incorporated
706-201-7241 OglethorpeCommunityChristmas@gmail.com