Community Corner

Donations' Drop Makes Christmas Grinchy

Last year's Kid's Blue Christmas allowed 83 children to fulfill their shopping fantasies, but organizers say this year's goal of sending 100 children is in jeopardy.

With lower-than-expected donations this year, it's possible fewer children will be able to go on a shopping spree for Chirstmas during the annual Kid's Blue Light Special.

Last year's event sent 83 children to the Kmart aisles to fulfill their shopping fantasies, but orgainzers say this year's goal of sending 100 children is in jeopardy.

“We are not on a pace necessary to meet our goal of 100 children," said John Sell, the president of the Kiwanis Club of Douglas County, this year's sponsor organization. "I am sure the economy has affected some of our longtime sponsors. I believe that people will open their hearts and their wallets to the less fortunate, and I am confident that this community will once again rise to the occasion."

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"I believe that people will open their hearts and their wallets to the less fortunate, and I am confident that this community will once again rise to the occasion."

According to a report in the Washington Post, charitable giving nationally decreased 2 percent last year, and individual donations dropped by 2.7 percent between 2007 and 2010. Charities have struggled with the reduced donations even as the bad economy has driven up demand.

The Kiwanis Club of Douglas County has taken over the event from the Optimist Club, which started the event but no longer exists.

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This year will be the 14th annual Kid’s Blue Light Special. The project enables children who are less fortunate the opportunity to go on a shopping spree accompanied by an officer from the .

Last year’s project was dubbed a tremendous success, thanks to the generous response received from the community, and 83 children participated. Since this project began in 1998, almost 900 children have been served.

This year’s goal is to provide Christmas for at least 100 children. The faculty from elementary schools will select the children participating in this project.

On Dec. 15, each child will be allotted $100 to spend at the on Highway 5. Douglasville police officers, community leaders and volunteers, using guidance provided by the children’s families, will be available to assist the children in the shopping spree.

The public is encouraged to help by sponsoring one or more children and thus empowering us to serve as many underprivileged youths as possible. The cost for a sponsorship is $100 per child.

"We hope that the public will once again pour out its generosity by financially supporting this worthwhile project," Sell said. "Not only will it bring joy to needy children in our community, but, probably more importantly, it will also go a long way toward building a solid foundation for the future of police-community relations."

Anyone interested in sponsoring a child should mail the contribution to Kiwanis Club of Douglas County, P.O. Box 69, Douglasville, GA 30133, or contact John Sell at 678-799-1742 by Dec. 9. One hundred percent of every contribution is used for this project.

This article is part of "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream," our ongoing series about how people in Douglasville are adapting to the challenges of life in the 21st century. You can find more Dispatches from across the country at The Huffington Post.


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