Caller-Times Children's Christmas Appeal: Donations rolling in to help kids in need
The Caller-Times' annual Children's Christmas Appeal has started to help support families in need this holiday season.
With the help of seven agencies in the Coastal Bend, Caller-Times staff is able to meet with struggling families, get to know them and share their stories with readers to help raise donations. These donations help the families buy Christmas gifts for their little ones that they otherwise could not afford.
So far, $33,076 has been raised for Children's Christmas Appeal this year. That's a 1,002% increase compared to this time last year.
Elayne Mitsui, social work supervisor at Nueces County Department of Social Services, said the department's goal is to ensure residents facing emergency situations have a safety net.
"We provide resources and counseling to promote self-sufficiency,' Mitsui said. "Every day, we meet people that are facing hardships brought on by mental and physical health emergencies, losing hours or employment, crime, violence or abuse.
"The hardest cases, of course, are the ones where children are involved. So often, we see parents and guardians doing their best and struggling with keeping the lights on or the rent paid."
Mitsui recalled one of the families she helped several years ago.
"She was in her early 20s and was raising her siblings since their mother was unable to care for them due to her addiction," Mitsui said. "This young woman needed help, substantial help, to get her and her siblings stable."
She said the guardian was sleeping on a mattress that had a bullet hole in it.
"Someone had shot in their home, and this was all that she had for her and the kids to sleep on," Mitsui said. "This family was featured in the Caller-Times and had two sponsors request to meet with the family."
The children featured this season represent thousands who will be helped by the Caller-Times Children's Christmas Appeal. The names of the families profiled have been changed to protect their privacy.
Since 1973, the Caller-Times has reported the struggle of needy children and their families during the holiday season. All the money donated to the Christmas Appeal campaign benefits the children; all overhead costs are borne by the Caller-Times, United Way of the Coastal Bend, and participating agencies. This year, the Nueces County Record Star and the Alice Echo-News Journal joined the campaign.
Participating agencies include Boys & Girls Club of Alice, Duval County Christmas Committee, the Kleberg County Welfare Department, Nueces County Department of Social Services, the Odyssey After School Enrichment Program in Rockport, Sinton for Youth Inc., and the Purple Door.
Donations as of Dec. 2, 2021
In honor of Clara and Dick Davy
In honor of the Castroll grandchildren
In memory of Wretha Barr
In memory of Aurelio and Rosario Barrera
In memory of Dr. Jack L. Bradshaw
In memory of Clarissa Chapa-Radke
In memory of Will Charba
In memory of Rosa Lee Day
In memory of Anita and Bob Domenick
In memory of Dean Dreiling
In memory of Mary Rose Dreiling
In memory of Randy Eikel
In memory of Nicki Davis Fischer
In memory of Carle and Fred Heinsohn
In memory of Buddy Herrin
In memory of Harriette Howe
In memory of James and Margaret Kaylor
In memory of Linda and Gary Lanphier
In memory of Bobbie, George and Larry McLeroy
In memory of Jose M. Nino
In memory of Shay Pierce Jr.
In memory of Charles Ross
In memory of Cdr. Frank Sumney
In memory of Steve Thompson
In memory of Joseph Zelum
In memory of Bill C. Bernsen
In memory of Amanda Crosby/Rickman
In memory of Bert DuBois
In memory of Ramiro Escobar
In memory of Ella Beth Gibson
In memory of Lee Govatos
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. John Govatos
In memory of Edith Hubca
In memory of Edwin Menn
In memory of Orine Menn
In memory of Ruth Miller
In memory of Wilton Miller
In memory of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Gough Smith
In memory of Elia Vann
In memory of Doris Denby Waldhelm
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Whitehurst
In memory of J. Ryan Whittington
In memory of Carol A. Wicehring
Chris and Robert Adler
Robin and Gordon Bennett
Mabel H. Byrnes
John and Dorothy Drew
Phyllis M. Farmer
Ada Weil Fish
June A. Gildersleeve
Sally & James Gill
Sally L. Goldston
Patricia A. Harris
Emmett and Nora Faye Harris
Frank and Jan Luckay
Linda McGowan
Ron and Dylcia McKenzie
Faye and Russ Miget
Reynaldo and Josefa Narvaez
Donald K. & Dr. Vickie C. Natale
Ricardo and Carmen A. Sanchez
John R. Shreves
Charlie and Linda Zahn
Sunil K. Ahuja
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Bluntzer
Milton Cobb
Norma J. Janice
Rev. Semus McGowan
Phil Nicholson
Donald Jay Pichinson
Roy E. Reed
Orfa Salinas
Tyler Smith
Klye Wohlfahrt
HOW TO DONATE
Here are three ways to help:
*Fill out the donation form on Page 2A. Make your check or money order payable to Children’s Christmas Appeal and mail to: United Way of Coastal Bend, 4659 Everhart Road, Corpus Christi, TX, 78411 (designate funds to Children's Christmas Appeal)
*Donate online at www.uwcb.org. Look for the Christmas Appeal logo.
*Text ChristmasAppeal (no spaces) to 41444 to make a donation.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Christmas Appeal: Here's how to help South Texas kids for the holidays