In the late 1980’s a small group of supporters quickly grew into a multitude of Fayette Cares volunteers and donors with open hearts. Holiday food and toy giving were among the first caring gestures that later grew into a broad array of crisis intervention services provided by Fayette Cares.
This special holiday tradition is embraced countywide and beyond. This year, as in past, people of all ages helped to collect, sort and distribute food and toys, including students from Scout troops from Shelby and Fayette Co., Fayette Academy, Fayette Ware Comprehensive High School, East and West Jr. High and more. Supporters found it easy to make contributions because of the many community donation drives including those lead by 24/7 Fitness of Oakland, BancorpSouth Oakland and Somerville, Cash Express Oakland and Somerville, Chickasaw Electric Co-operative, DaVita Dialysis, ERA Chamberwood Realty, Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, Germantown Country Club, LMS Farms, Hickory Withe Community Association, MCR Safety, Mason Jr. Book Club, Somerville-Fayette Co. Library, Somerville Masonic Lodge, MicroPort Orthopedics, Nona’s Little Bits of Heaven Childcare Center, Ring Container Technologies, LLC, Trustmark and more.
Faith was moved to action as churches also organized efforts to provide food, toys, and volunteers in order to serve neighbors in need. Among the faithful were Bell Grove M.B. Baptist Church, Eads Animal Hospital, Faith United Methodist Church, Fayette Baptist Church, Knollies Chapel, LaGrange United Methodist Church, Morris C.M.E. Church, Macon Methodist Church, Piperton United Methodist Church, Shady Grove Baptist Church, St. Philip Catholic Church and other caring faith communities.
Fayette Cares was especially grateful for Warren Community Church who made it possible to gather and distribute over 14,000 lbs. of food in their facility, including venison form Hunters for the Hungry processed by Stengel Brothers Outdoors and turkeys donated by St. Anne’s Bartlett, Knights of Columbus.
Another blessing was the ability to once again hold Santa’s Toy Shop at the First United Methodist Church of Somerville, making it possible for Santa’s little helpers (AKA Fayette Cares volunteers) to distribute more than 1,600 donated toys to over 200 children. This included more than 65 bicycles donated by groups including Hunter Fan Company, Somerville Presbyterian Church, and Waste Solutions.
Fayette Cares is grateful for all the caring hearts (too many to list!) that helped make this a Merry Christmas and happy holiday for so many in need.
Learn more, view photos, and get involved at fayettecares.org or find Fayette Cares on Facebook. Fayette Cares is a United Way Agency.
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