Community Christmas Card donations benefit students in need

Stephanie Hill, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Dec. 3—As the holiday season gets underway, the Aiken community can help students by donating to the Community Christmas Card.

The annual Community Christmas Card, sponsored by the Aiken Standard, helps students in the Aiken County Public School District all year long. The funds are divided up evenly between the schools on a rotating basis, said Keisha Uhle, school counselor at Aiken Elementary School

"It goes directly to help individual students who have specific needs, like shoes, socks, hygiene products, school supplies, etc., that generally is decided upon by the principal and school counselor at each school," Uhle said of the donations.

Uhle said that the money can help around 25-50 students depending on the amount of the donation and the needs of the students.

"When we help to provide the physical needs of our students, they are better prepared to learn and therefore more confident when coming to school," Uhle said. "Confidence and preparedness lead to academic growth, but one of the greatest benefits is that it builds trust. Our students know that they are cared about and they are always so grateful to receive these things."

For a $1 donation, the Aiken Standard will publish the contributor's name in the Christmas Day issue of the newspaper in its annual Community Christmas Card. Readers contributed $8,103 in 2021.

"Since 2017, Aiken Standard readers and area businesses have donated more than $25,000 to support this fund," said John Boyette, executive editor of the Aiken Standard. "The Community Christmas Card is an ongoing example of how something as small as $1 can create a ripple and help one child."

All contributions will be set up in an easily accessed fund and used at the discretion of the Aiken County Public Schools' counselors to help their students meet immediate needs.

Readers can make a contribution for themselves, to honor another person, or in memory of a family member or friend. Businesses and organizations can participate, too, making contributions in the names of their employees or members.

There are multiple ways to contribute to the Community Christmas Card.

To make a donation online, visit aikenstandard.com/donate. Readers will have the option to add additional names per $1 donated to be included on the Community Christmas Card as the transaction is completed in the payment portal.

To donate by mail, please write legibly the names to sign on the Community Christmas Card and send at least $1 per name. The Aiken Standard's mailing address is 326 Rutland Drive, Aiken, S.C. 29801.

Readers can also donate with a phone call. Call the Aiken Standard office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 803-648-2311 to put the donation on your debit or credit card.

The deadline to contribute is 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16.