Holiday helpers benefifit 540 parents

Several parents recently camped outside a former Thomasville Furniture store filled with toys, bicycles and other children’s gifts for families in need. The next morning they were ushered in to select gifts through North Fulton Community Charities holiday assistance program.

“They stay all night,” said Eden Purdy, director of programs. “It means thatmuch to them. For some, they have towork [in the morning] and they want to be the first in line so they can go ahead and select a gift.”

A total of 540 parents living in Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek selected three gifts for each child. One bicycle was gifted per family. Alpharetta Bikes refurbished them during the charity’s gift drive.

According to Purdy, the presents benefited 1,476 children.

“It took the help of 500 volunteers to coordinate and execute the program,” she said.

“Recipients are families that are low wage earners and basically struggle every day to make ends meet,” she added. “And they are trying to work in an area where there is good work and schools, but it’s a struggle for them with the lack of affordable housing. This program helps them to [have less of a] fifinancial burden on already strained budgets.”

An October coat drive kicked off the charity’s annual holiday programing. A Thanksgiving food distribution program followed in November and served 445 families. This month included the Santa Shop, and a Sponsored Family Program, which helped 81 families considered fragile — often due to a medical issue — on Dec. 21.

“Sponsors adopt a family and get a personal letter on the recipient’s circumstances. You shop and pick out toys, package them up and bring to the distribution center,” said Purdy.

“We see close to 4,000 families a year who get into some kind of financial crisis,” explained Purdy. “In North Fulton, it’s hard for some folks, who are not in need, to grasp that. We want to help families get to self-sufficiency. We have workforce training, financial coaching and other classes.”

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A total of 540 parents living in Roswell, Alpharetta, Miltonand Johns Creek selected three gifts for each child. One bicycle was gifted per family.

CONTRIBUTED BY EDEN PURDY Eden Purdy (right), director of programsat North Fulton Community Charities, shares amomentwith Santa and a volunteer during the nonprofifit’s 2019 Santa Shop event, which helps hundreds of children.