Helping Families is More Than a Christmas Tradition at PORTS
Article Presented By Litter Quality Propane…
(Piketon) – The tradition of ensuring all children in our community have gifts on Christmas enters its 33rd year at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS). While the Christmas Gifts for Children program was created on site, help comes from across the community to purchase gifts for nearly 3,000 children.
It is a big undertaking to organize and distribute tags, and then ensure the right gifts are delivered. Some of the volunteers know the importance of this program firsthand.
CGFC Vice President Ashley Jordan has been a volunteer for 15 years.
“This program is very near and dear to me,” she said. “When I was in high school, my family fell on hard times one December. Although I was very private about the ordeal, someone noticed. That year, before Christmas break, my teacher kept me after class to give me a whole bag of gifts, unexpectedly. Her actions inspired me to help be the one who notices people and be the ray of light they may need.”
A project like this takes months of planning; but for the volunteers, the extra time is worth it. North Wind Dynamics Training Specialist Angie Remington has been involved with CGFC since it started in 1993.
“My favorite part of the CGFC Program is knowing that children will receive Christmas, and we are helping to remove stress on families who may struggle to provide gifts for their children,” she said. ”I am thankful I can play a role in that process.”
The wish lists often come from schools. Teachers, principals, and guidance counselors recommend students and collect their information. The students’ age, clothing size, and a couple of items from their wish lists are placed on a tag, and PORTS school coordinators place the tags throughout the site and community. The students come from Pike, Scioto, Ross, Jackson, Adams, Greenup, and Lewis counties. Many PORTS school coordinators hold fundraisers throughout the year to purchase gifts for students whose tags may not get fulfilled. When all is said and done, everyone on the list has something to open on Christmas.
“The generosity of the PORTS site is just incredible. So many of our employees volunteer their own time during a very busy season to make sure others are taken care of, and many of them have made it a tradition to take a tag and shop for others with their own families,” said Southern Ohio Cleanup Company Communications Director Shawn Jordan.
For volunteers, and those who take tags from a tree, the gift of giving and helping others is what the season is all about.
“Last year, I had the opportunity to help a family that needed not only clothing, but a mattress. We were able to meet that need with donations,” said SOCCo Project Support Associate Mary Ellen Rooney. “Another family needed food, so I put together a box for a nice Christmas dinner. Just the little things can make a difference. A Christmas card, a stocking with treats, or even a Christmas ornament. The support of our work family is one of the many reasons the program is a success!”
For information on how you can support the program visit the CGFC Facebook page by searching: Christmas Gifts for Children – Serving Southern Ohio & Northern Kentucky.
