Local ways to give over the holidays
Published 4:07 pm Thursday, December 13, 2012
Demopolis Fire Department will help deliver baskets to support the Demopolis Cares project. Shown in the photo is Vanessa Watson, adminstrative assistant at DFD, Dollar General district manager Josh Fitzgerald, Dollar General manager Deana Pritchett, Dollar General employees Antonio Walker and Kim Baker and interim fire chief Tommy Tate.
Christmas morning for many children and elderly around the county will be a little brighter this year thanks to efforts of the community to remember those less fortunate.
Comfort Care administrator Ginger Aldridge calls it, “the real meaning of Christmas” as she gathered with participants of the Demopolis Cares project Friday morning to receive donated baskets that would benefit the hospice patients.
Demopolis Cares officially launched Sept. 1 after a vision from Dollar General store manager Deana Pritchett as an effort to place gifts in the hands of children and the elderly this Christmas.
Months later, many of the benefactors of the projects are seeing the fruits of their labor.
Comfort Care Hospice will give donated baskets to some of their hospice patients. Shown in the photo from left is Dollar General manager Deana Pritchett, Comfort Care administrator Ginger Aldridge, Comfort Care Chaplain Robert Pearce, Nurse Danielle Patridge and Dollar General district manager Josh Fitzgerald.
Baskets were donated to Comfort Care as well as Southern Care hospice due to efforts of the project.
Demopolis Cares has raised about $8,500 dollars so far and hopes to reach their goal of $10,000. With those funds, they have been able to purchase items for the baskets to give to the elderly and toys for children all in Demopolis. So far, they have made about 205 baskets and wrapped about 176 toys.
One of the biggest fundraisers for the project has been the golf cart that can be found in the Dollar General store.
The Demopolis Police Department will assist the Demopolis Cares project by delivering toys to children who need them throughout the community. Shown in the photo are Demopolis Cares supporters Dollar General employee Kim Baker, River City Bike Club's Charles Freeman, Dollar General district manager Josh Fitzgerald, Dempolis Police Chief Tommie Reese and Dollar General store manager Deana Pritchett.
The golf cart, donated by Plaza Golf Carts, will be raffled until Dec. 15, when Demopolis Police Chief Tommie Reese will pull the winning raffle ticket.
“We are going to deliver the toys to kids throughout the community,” Reese said.
There have been numerous partners of the Demopolis Cares project including Fairhaven Baptist church youth, River City Bike Club, Mike’s Auto, Demopolis Police and Fire Departments. These groups and several others will help deliver the gifts to those who will benefit from Demopolis Cares.
“I think we are definitely going to make this a yearly thing,” Pritchett said.
Those who are still interested in supporting Demopolis Cares can visit Dollar General to purchase a $1 raffle ticket.
Project Merry Christmas
In addition to Demopolis Cares, the Marengo County DHR’s Project Merry Christmas is in full swing this holiday season.
Angel Trees can be found in the foyer’s of many local businesses and many churches are partnering with DHR to support this project.
