Western Plains needs help giving a merry Christmas to kids

No child should have to go without a present for Christmas.

That is why Western Plains Youth and Family Services sponsors an Angel Tree program each year to try “to ensure that every kid gets something,” said Kevin Evans, executive director of Western Plains Youth and Family Services.

Evans said through the program, the organization tries to provide the children with “at least one present, but hopefully more than one.”

In addition to the Angel Tree program, this year Western Plains will be continuing another holiday donation program that was started last year, “Coins for Christmas,” in which the public can donate their spare change to help provide gifts that might not be provided through the Angel Tree program.

Both programs are being overseen by Western Plains staff members Becky Carty, Community Intervention Center coordinator, and Laura Miller, shelter coordinator.

Carty noted that there are approximately 50 to 60 children, “from babies to 17- and 18-year-olds,” from Woodward and the surrounding area served by the Angel Tree program.

But that does not include the children who stay in the youth shelter this holiday season, she said.

That is another reason that Western Plains started “Coins for Christmas,” in order to raise money to provide presents for the children in the shelter as well as buy gifts for those children who don’t get picked off the angel trees, Carty said.

“Most of the kids who come through won’t have a Christmas otherwise,” she said.

“We understand that it is a hard year to give,” Miller said, noting that through working with numerous families, Western Plains knows just how much families are struggling because of the recent recession.

Western Plains is also facing its own financial troubles through budget cuts, which is what makes the community’s support even more needed and valued this year, Evans said.

“We know it’s tough out there, but if they can think about us at this time, we would really appreciate it,” he said. “This year we have had more kids in our shelter and in our programs, we just have more kids to buy for.”

For the most part, Western Plains is looking for new items for the children, but Carty noted that “with coats and stuff, gently used is okay and I know a lot of kids will need coats this year.”

Items for the Angel Tree program should be left unwrapped and should be dropped off by Dec. 14.

“They can drop them off here at Western Plains or where they picked the names up,” Carty said, noting that all of the Angel Tree sites also serve as collection points for presents.

The Angel Trees should be set up and in place sometime this next week, Evans said.

The Western Plains Angel Trees are located at: Dr. Barbie Phillips Chiropractic Clinic, Dr. Pruett’s dental office, Dr. Hunter’s dental office, Dr. Yadon’s dental office, Dr. Kirkendall’s office, Hopkins Shoe Mart, Woodward Library, Cherlyn’s Style Shop, Bella’s, Stage and Honk-N-Holler.

The Western Plains “Coins for Christmas” collection jars are located at: The Cake Lady, Randy’s Pharmacy, K Bobs, Ken’s Haberdashery, Stage, Sweet Surprises, Paradise Book Store, Dairy Queen, Mick’s Pharmacy, Jim’s Nutrition, Badger Pressure Control, Sweet’s Short Stop, and the Jiffy Trip stores on 9th Street and Downs Avenue.

There are also a number of “Coins for Christmas” collection locations in Mooreland, including the Mooreland Jiffy Trip, “The Corner” store, “Syms” convenience store, and Mooreland High School.

“The Mooreland 4-H club is also collecting coins,” Miller said.

For more information about either of these programs or to “donate a sum of money,” which would be tax deductible, contact either Miller or Carty at Western Plains Youth and Family Services at (580) 254-5322.

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