Community expands efforts to give gifts to children
A push to provide Christmas gifts for Shelby children is expanding this year.
In years past, Shelby City Park and Friends of the Park partnered to provide a Christmas gift for each student at Graham Elementary School.
While the consolidation of schools this year included the closure of Graham, those same people wanted to continue to provide that Christmas cheer to those students, and others.
“After the great success last year, we began discussing the idea of getting other community partners and making this happen at all Shelby zone elementary schools,” said Charlie Holtzclaw, director of Shelby Parks and Recreation.
Those schools include James Love, Jefferson and Elizabeth for a total of 1,383 students.
“Realizing this was going to be a substantial challenge, we began seeking others to help make this happen,” Holtzclaw continued.
Shelby City Park and the Friends of the Parks committed to collect for James Love Elementary, and not long afterward Cornerstone Dental Associates took on Jefferson Elementary.
With two down, only Elizabeth Elementary, the largest of the three, was left.
Stepping up to the plate to provide gifts for that school were Adam Larsen with Edward Jones, Elizabeth Baptist Church, Piedmont Plastic Surgery, Sewell Contractors and Webb Chemical.
Those willing to help are asked to bring unwrapped $10 gifts to any of a variety of locations by Dec. 9
They will be taken to the children the week of Dec. 12.
Locations for drop off are:
Shelby City Park main office and carousel, 850 W. Sumter St., Shelby
Holly Oak Park, 809 Holly Oak Ave., Shelby
Cornerstone Dental, 101 Life Enrichment Blvd., Shelby
Edward Jones, 201 N. Morgan St., Shelby
Elizabeth Baptist Church, 301 N. Post Road, Shelby
For more information, call 704-484-6821.
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Community expands efforts to give gifts to children
