PEARCY -- A total of 436 children in the Lake Hamilton School District received food, clothes and Christmas presents this month through Operation North Pole at the Lake Hamilton Parent Center.
Most of the distribution of gifts was completed by Wednesday. The final items were picked up on Friday to conclude the two-month effort by numerous groups within the schools and the community.
Operation North Pole began at the Parent Center four years ago. The program helped to consolidate efforts at each of the different schools on campus.
Marsha Paslay, a family and community coordinator for the center, said North Pole helped to prevent "double dipping" and ensure that all siblings in a family received items. Paslay and fellow coordinator Renae Carrouth check with other organizations, such as The Salvation Army, to find out whether families are registered to receive gifts from any other organizations.
"Now we have people that call us to ask, 'Can I help?'" Paslay said. "Before, we were scouring places to find sponsors, but now it's just awesome."
The Parent Center hosts a luncheon with potential sponsors in October to plan for each Christmas. Piney Grove United Methodist Church sponsored 180 of the 436 children served.
North Pole provided for its largest number of students a year ago. Food, clothes and gifts were supplied for 538 children in 2014. The program has helped more than 375 students each year since it began.
Other groups that sponsored students include the Lake Hamilton Future Farmers of America Alumni Association, Elks, Kiwanis, Junior Auxiliary, Terry Martin's Lounge and Project CHRISTmas Tree. Paslay and Carrouth said many local churches, including First Baptist Church of Royal, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Center Fork Baptist Church helped with the effort. Carrouth and Paslay each sponsor a family individually.
Students groups also get involved. The baseball team purchased clothes and gifts for the two students it sponsored.
The Beta Club at Lake Hamilton Junior High provided boxes of food with turkey, trimmings and canned goods. The high school Beta Club sponsored a family.
"It is a huge community effort," Carrouth said. "There is no way we could undertake it without the support of the community."
Counselors send home forms to the parents of selected students in October around the same time as the meeting with sponsors. Parents will identify items wanted by the children and whether or not the Parent Center will prepare food for them.
"The parents actually help identify sizes and needs and tell us what they are interested in so we are not just getting generic gifts," Carrouth said. "We are getting something that will be special to each child."
Carrouth said it gets "fast and furious" at the Parent Center in December as gifts begin to pile up. She and Paslay said Wednesday was an emotional day when many of the families picked up their items.
"You can't imagine how it makes you feel," Paslay said. "Some of them are just so appreciative."
The Parent Center maintains a food pantry and clothes closet throughout the year. The Arkansas Community Correction department recently provided a large donation of food that has helped to supplement packages provided for families. Food is provided for students during the year through the district's backpack program.
Local on 12/20/2014