Give a Gift this Christmas

A number of area kids in need might not have any Christmas gifts to open this year.

The Adopt- A-Child Committee for Muskingum County Children’s Services is working to provide gifts to more than 70 children in foster homes and child protection custody.

"Some of these children have no love, they have no one to care for them," said Adopt-A-Child Chairman Anne England. "Our group tries to see that some children have some hope at having some kind of normal life and being like the other kids."

Member of Adopt-A-Child Committee Pam Elliot first began donating gifts 35 years ago. She said it not only gave hope to the children in need, it taught her own kids the act of giving.

"I wanted to teach them they real meaning of Christmas," said Elliot. "It wasn’t just what am I going to get for Christmas but it was, what am I going to do for someone else, or making someone else happy in the world."

If your interested in donating items for a child, contact Muskingum County Children Services at (740) 455-6710.

Other Information:

• Donors can choose the age and sex of the adopted child.
• Both, gifts and money of any amount are appreciated.
• Children Services, not the parents, will return all gifts to the store if needed due to incorrect sizes, or broken/missing pieces.
• Some donors may choose to donate only money, instead of buying and wrapping the gifts.
• Any money not used this Christmas will be used for music lessons, tutoring, or birthday gifts throughout the year.
• Children Services will keep a list of gifts received by each child. If the child is moved to a different home, all those gifts will go with the child.
• Gifts will be collected between 8AM and Noon on December 8th at Faith United Methodist Church in Zanesville.