Samaritan Room /Angel Tree helps parents provide 523 children with holiday gifts
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CLINTON — On Dec 2, 480 children and their parents, screened by Samaritan Room, participated in the State Farm Bank financial literacy event. The event, hosted at the Clinton Junior High School, was a “fun fair” for kids and parents to help develop financial skills with prizes, such as piggy banks in a fun holiday setting.
The Samaritan Room, with the help of State Farm Bank, gave away raffled prizes including gift cards,toys and a large-screen television. All attendees received holiday wrapping paper, refreshments and gift bags for their kids.
On Dec 5, screened parents of 523 children from around DeWitt County shopped at the local Clinton Walmart with a Samaritan Room / Angel Tree voucher. Donations raised from the 2017 holiday campaign enabled parents to have $60 to spend at Clinton Walmart for each child.
Under the supervision of Angel Tree volunteers, parents selected clothing and holiday items for their children. At the checkouts, all bar codes and tags were blacked out to prevent unnecessary returns and ensure clothing items could be returned for even exchanges only. Total expenditures on December 5, raised from donations, was $31,500.
On December 12, Walmart’s donation of $2,000, and the officer’s personal donations of $600, allowed 26 additional children to “Shop with a Cop,” at our hometown Clinton Walmart. Samaritan Room screened all recipients, provided refreshments and helped with checkout.
One December 16. 20 children, screened and selected for the Walmart grant, “Shopped with a Firefighter” for holiday gifts this Saturday.
Samaritan Room relies on community generosity, so the organization is able to provide emergency coats, shoes and clothing assistance to local schools throughout the school year. Donations may be dropped off at the First National Bank during regular business hours, or mailed to Samaritan Room/Angel Tree. P.O Box 258, Clinton, IL 61727.
To become a volunteer with Samaritan Room, contact suecalvert13@gmail.com
Farmer City and Weldon donations, contact Lynda Harmon harman.lynda@yahoo.com.
Total numbers do not reflect the children served on Farmer City Angel Tree.