Christmas for kids in Cookstown and area 2006

Dear editor,

The mission of the Christmas for Kids program is to bring Christmas to families in Cookstown and area that would otherwise be without.

For the past seven years we have given parents or guardians the means to provide their children with what every child deserves to wake up to Christmas morning; stockings, presents of toys, clothes and other goodies, a wonderful Christmas dinner and plenty of food to keep the spirit of the season alive as long as possible.

Debra Harrison of St. John's Anglican Church Cookstown and outreach program co-ordinator for the Christmas for Kids, wishes to send a heart felt thank-you to everyone who helped reach 34 kids in 20 families, a total of 63 people this 2006 Christmas.

Thank-you for your generosity toward this outreach program;- To the children, their families and staff of Cookstown Central Public School for a wonderful assortment of toys and non-perishable foods; Shauna McLachlan and staff for their inspired "Flowers for Food" campaign;

Iron Works for their year-round support to our outreach program with gifts of clothes and toys, as well as adopting a family at Christmas; Pharmasave for supplying each family with gift certificates; P & H foods for their yearly supply of turkeys for South Innisfil and our neighbors extended outreach program; Our very own Christmas Angels for the many stocking stuffers and gifts galore; Private donors who adopted a family or made monetary contributions that helped buy gift certificates for perishable foods and other provisions.

The families that received your wonderful gifts are very grateful, and I am very grateful to the many volunteers who in the spirit of the season, gave their time and energy helping to collect all the food and toys, sorting, wrapping and packing it all together for each of the families. The true meaning of Christmas and Community is alive and well here, and we should all be very proud of that.

Debra Harrison.