MSP Christmas Gifts 2009
It has been over four months since Christmas and I have neglected to write about one of the greatest events of the year in the Morgan-Scott community – the annual Christmas Store. This is not an ordinary store. We are not selling anything. We are making sure that all children in Morgan and Scott counties, regardless of their family’s circumstances, have Christmas gifts.
Started in 1976 when 75 families (approximately 250 children) were served, the Christmas store has grown over the years. It served 2200 children in 2007, 2410 in 2008, and a record 2832 children from 858 families in 2009. This year each child received two large gifts, a stuffed animal, and a pair of mittens.
The families that are helped are selected on the basis of family income and need. After the donations are received, our director and local volunteers take inventory of the gifts and use the cash to purchase additional gifts from Walmart and other local stores.
This event could not happen without the help of many donors. For the past several years, the Unicorn Fund and the Salvation Army have worked with MSP to sponsor this program. Like MSP, they accept gifts and cash from donors for this cause. Many churches and individuals send toys and/or money for this event. Among these have been the Fairfield Glade Community Church, Concord UMC, Church of Our Savior (UCC) of Knoxville, and Spring City UMC. By naming these churches, I am sure that I am leaving out many others who have demonstrated their love of Christ through these gifts to underprivileged children.
Article by Ray Boles
