By Staff
The Salvation Army’s red kettles have been set up. The Toys for Tots collection boxes have been deployed.
That means the Christmas season, a time for sharing with others, is with us once again.
There is no shortage of organizations and agencies seeking help from the public when it comes to making Christmas merrier for people who likely would not have a happy holiday without others who share their blessings. There are plenty of programs and projects in the area that need help when it comes to making sure those blessings are shared. Those programs and projects, for the most part, just are not as recognizable as the Salvation Army or Toys for Tots.
For instance, take the Beaufort County Department of Social Service’s project to provide foster children with Christmas gifts.
As reported earlier this month by the Daily News, the department organizes the Christmas-wish project for the foster children it places with families in the area. Each of the 60 children or so in foster care makes out a Christmas-wish list. The lists are distributed to people in the community so they may shop for gifts for the children or make cash donations that are used to buy gifts for the youngsters.
As with almost any charitable project at this time of the year, the demand for items outweighs the supply of items. But it looks like Beaufort County residents are willing to share their good fortune and abundant blessings with others.
And those residents help keep the project going.
Don’t forget Eagle’s Wings. This ministry provides food to people who, for whatever reason, have problems putting food on their tables. These are people who aren’t worried about putting presents under the Christmas tree; they are more concerned with putting food in their children’s stomachs than with stuffing things in their children’s Christmas stockings.
Eagle’s Wings is more than just about feeding people. Its mission, according to the organization’s Web site is to “become aware of and meet family and personal needs (physical, emotional and spiritual) of residents of Beaufort County; to meet these needs through the joint efforts of caring Christian members with referrals to other service agencies and to give aid in such a way that encourages self-respect, dignity, self-reliance and a desire to help others.”
Eagle’s Wings provides a helping hand in other matters, too.
Feeding the hungry and putting smiles on the faces of children by providing them with gifts at this time of the year — few other things, if any, exhibit the Christmas spirit as those two acts of kindness. The Department of Social Service’s project for foster children and Eagle’s Wings ministry help spread Christmas cheer and the Christmas message.
They need help when it comes to helping others. We can provide that help.
Anyone who wants to obtain a wish list and shop for a foster child should call Catherine Keech at 940-6030. To make a monetary donation, mail a check to: Kiwanis Special Youth Fund, c/o Cliff Toler, P.O. Box 2711, Washington, NC 27889. Food donations to Eagle’s Wings may be dropped off at the organization’s headquarters, 932 W. Third St., Washington, or monetary donations may be sent to Eagle’s Wings, P.O. Box 426, Washington, NC 27889.