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 Sarah’s Santas spreads Christmas cheer to 140 children web posted December 22, 2009  JOHNSTON – It is
almost Christmas and that
means Debbie Courtney will be easy to find (Left). She and many other
“Angels
Helping Sarah’s Santa” were busy wrapping gifts, coordinating
deliveries to needy families, and making a certain a lot of local
children will be happy on Christmas Day. “It’s sad,” Ms. Courtney said,
“there are so many children that wouldn’t be getting anything for
Christmas.” And she knows what it is like, she’s been there.After going through a divorce, money was tight and the outlook to Christmas for her children looked bleak that year. That is when others stepped up and made sure her children had a good Christmas with presents to open. “I always said when I got back on my feet after my divorce; I was going to give back to the community.” That time came in 1996 when Ms. Courtney’s mother, Sarah Wedaman, the organization’s namesake, said it was time to start giving back.  Back then it was
just her and family members trying to help four or
five families who were unable to provide a Christmas due to tough
times. Thirteen years later “Sarah’s Santas”, as it is commonly known,
reaches out to 45 families and between 120 and 140 children. “I would
have never in a million years imagined it would have gotten this big,”
Ms. Courtney said. What once took up a room in the house now consumes the main hallways of JET Middle School and the cafeteria as the items the children wished for are sorted for clothing, socks, personal items, and not to mention lots of toys and, yes, even that new bike. Ms. Courtney said on Sunday there were between thirty to forty volunteers that “showed up” to sort out the gifts by the child’s needs, wrapping presents, and getting them in order for delivery. “We got an early start this year because of the economy,” Ms. Courtney said about fundraising, adding that they expected less than last year. “But donations from Edgefield County have been great, tremendous, it shows this isn’t an organization, it’s a community. This is what Edgefield County is all about.”  Ms. Courtney also
recounted a phone call she made to the mother of a
needy family earlier in the day. “I called her and confirmed they (the
children) were not going to be having Christmas and I told her we
wanted to send over some presents for the children.” The woman on the
other end of the phone began to cry and thought it was some sort of a
cruel joke. “Why would you do this to me,” the woman was quoted as
saying. “By this time I was crying and I told her it was for real and
we really were going to bring the presents. So there we were sobbing
together,” Courtney said. It is calls like that and information on the families that insures Sarah’s Santas is reaching those truly in need. Ms. Courtney also said she believed a story last year by EdgefieldDaily.com helped make this year such a success. “The story reached a lot of people and we picked up many new groups that offered to help out.” It was the only time this reporter disagreed with Ms. Courtney saying the story was not a factor, “God blesses good deeds in His name.” Ms. Courtney said the Living Word Church in Trenton was back again this year with a delivery of bicycles and St. Mary’s, and others joined in this year. “It’s been wonderful,” Courtney said. The Federal Corrections Institute in Edgefield also helped out with generous donations. The Mt. Vintage community also stepped forward this year. “I believe it is the Mt. Vintage Women’s Golf Association, I hope that the right name, but they have been tremendous,” not only in giving, but also in giving their time Ms. Courtney said. As the day progressed, the toys, presents, and bikes were loaded into a long line of trucks and trailers, SUV’s and other vehicles to begin distribution of the proverbial “Santa’s sacks” to each family. Sarah’s Santas does not end after Christmas Ms. Courtney said. “We help families throughout the year.” In the past year alone the organization helped out two families that lost their homes to fire and was contacted by one of the local schools about a family who was living without power. The families were all helped by the donations given to the organization, including restoring power to the home where there was none. Though Christmas is when Sarah’s Santas are most visible, “we’re here year round,” Ms. Courtney said. Donations can be made directly at the local Carolina First bank or you can call 803-275-1677 for more information on how you can help. © Copyright 2009
EdgefieldDaily.com All
original material is property of
EdgefieldDaily.com and cannot be reproduced, rewritten or redistributed
without the expressed written permission of Edgefield Daily.com
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