Charity may have to turn people away

Published 11:52 pm Saturday, December 13, 2008

MAPLESVILLE – The Maplesville Toys for Kids program may have to reject help for some families for the first time in three years.

Town Clerk Sheila Haigler has been busy working up ways to stretch out the money and toys that have been donated to this year’s program. She said that although they have had many people give donations this year, donations are down from last year.

Haigler said the town had 61 families who signed up for the program before the deadline and then another 18 after the deadline.

“We are trying to do everything we can to fit everybody in, but with the amount of money we have received this year, it is going to be hard to accomplish,” she said. “This year we definitely have more people to take care of than we did last year.”

If the town is able to help at least the 61 families that signed up on time, they will be helping give almost 150 kids Christmas gifts. Haigler said the extra 18 families would push them closer to having to buy for around 175 kids.

The town will stop taking donations Dec. 24; however, they will be buying the kids Christmas gifts on Dec. 17.

Anyone who is accepted into the program and has toys to pick up will be asked to arrive at the toy pick-up station before noon on Tuesday, Dec. 23.

–Ashley McCartney can be reached at ashley.mccartney@clantonadvertiser.com.