The Community Christmas Card project has been helping school children in every school district of Faulkner County since 1994.
The money donated to this program, sponsored by the Log Cabin Democrat, is distributed among the school counselors from Guy to Greenbrier to Conway, to use for whatever need they see in their students.
Many teachers use the funds to give coats to children who would normally go without during the wintertime or help students' families make ends meet by paying rent. Mike Hairston said he has often used the money to help students have the same learning opportunities as their peers.
"I think the majority of ours has gone to making it possible for kids to go on field trips and then be able to purchase a meal when they stop on the way home," Hairston, counselor at Mayflower Elementary School, said.
Hairston said he appreciates the people of Faulkner County who have been so instrumental in changing the lives of these kids.
"Personally I'd feel terrible if I knew that a kid would have to stay here instead of go on a trip because of some financial or economic problem," Hairston said. "So when the teachers see a problem, they come and ask me if there is money available for that in the Christmas Card fund and there usually is."
Eyeglasses and medication have also been purchased for students at Mayflower Elementary using this fund, according to Hairston.
The public school systems in Faulkner County aren't the only ones that benefit from the donations made to the Community Christmas Card. St. Joseph School and Conway Christian School, two private districts in Conway, have also received portions of this fund.
Richard Walter, a counselor at St. Joseph School, said three families in his school have already been given financial assistance this year. He added the majority of the funds were spent on food, medicine and clothing.
"I think it's great," Walter said. "It's kind of hard for us sometimes to find families to use it, but we usually do end up finding a family in need and it's a wonderful thing to have available."
Those who donate at least $1 to the Community Christmas Card will have his or her name listed on the card, which will be published in the Christmas Eve edition. There will also be an additional chance to donate after Christmas and another card will be printed in the New Year's Eve edition.
Those interested in participating in the Community Christmas Card can bring donations by the Log Cabin Democrat office at 1058 Front St. in Conway, mail them to Community Christmas Card, P.O. Box 969, Conway, AR 72033 or visit the Log Cabin Web site at www.thecabin.net.
(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
