Photo provided On Dec. 3, Columbus firefighters invited their family members for one night only to help them pack gift boxes for this year’s Cheer Fund distribution that will take place on Saturday morning.
The need for holiday assistance for the children of financially-struggling parents or guardians in the Columbus area is higher than it has been in years.
By the time the deadline arrived to request help through the Holiday Helpline, there were 2,840 Bartholomew County children registered to receive help, Volunteer Action Center director Alicia Monroe said.
“That means our numbers are up by over 500 from last year – and I don’t know why,” Monroe said. “‘Toys For Tots’ has never even come close to their cap of children they can serve. However, they did cap this year and we had to put those kids on a waiting list.”
Established as part of the United Way of Bartholomew County, the Volunteer Action Center serves as a clearing house for those requesting assistance for children. The nonprofit assigns each eligible child with the most appropriate charity, as well as maintains a database to ensure that nobody attempts to take advantage of multiple agencies.
Holiday charities in the Columbus area include Shop With a Cop, Toys For Tots, Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund, Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center’s Angels of Love initiative and the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.
Based on past experience, Monroe knows the already high numbers will continue to go up as late registrations place children on a waiting list.
There are a myriad of reasons why the numbers increase both before and after the deadline, she said.
“These might be parents who thought they could buy Christmas on their own, only to discover at the last minute that they can’t afford it,” Monroe said. “Or it could be that (a parent or guardian) just lost their job, or thought they were going to get help from family members – only to see that plan fall through.”
Last minute calls are also made by people who have just moved to the community, and were unaware about the holiday programs,” she said.
“We will do our best to either serve them within the organizations that can help, or recruit donors,” Monroe said. “The community always comes forward, and really tries to make it happen, so every child has something under the tree.”
