Thursday, December 20, 2007
Helping with the Holiday


Courtesy: The Valdosta Daily Times
By Malynda Fulton
(The Valdosta Daily Times for permission to reprint this article)

VALDOSTA — ‘Tis the season of giving and the Lowndes County Department of Family and Children Services and the District’s Attorney Office of the Southern Judicial Circuit have helped bring a little holiday cheer to child victims in the area.

Thursday afternoon, gifts, donated by members of the community and stores that wish to remain anonymous, were delivered to foster children who have recently been the victims of child abuse, sexual abuse or witnessed some act of domestic violence.

“We collected gifts for teenagers that ranged from 13 to 17 years old,” Victim Services Coordinator Carla Leggett said. “We have received more than 55 gifts.”

Social Services Director Penny Turner added, “Some of these children would have very little, if anything at all, for Christmas. This is just our way of letting them know they are special to us.”

Between late November and early December, wrapped and unwrapped gifts, monetary contributions and hefty gift cards were accepted at the District Attorney’s Office, which sponsors the annual drive.

Leggett said that a van full of toys collected during the drive was delivered to smaller foster children in the area to brighten their season as well.

“We just appreciate members of the public for opening their hearts to the children,” Leggett said. “This shows that people have actually taken the time to reflect on how blessed they are and become a blessing to someone else.”

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