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Programs aim to
help Hatteras families at Christmas
Christmas
this year on Hatteras Island is going to be rough for many Hatteras
Island families who homes and belongings were washed away or damaged by
Hurricane Irene in August.
Most of the physical damage was in
the villages of Avon, Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo, but families in the
southern villages will also be feeling the financial squeeze of either
being out of work for weeks after the storm or being laid off early for
the winter.
As usual, the annual drive is under to stock the
Hatteras Island Food Pantry, and this year two Cape Hatteras Secondary
School students have a project underway to replace the Christmas
decorations of at least 30 island families.
In addition,
Hatteras Island will again have an Angel Tree project -- organized by a
coalition of churches, businesses, and individuals – to bring Christmas
to children in need on the island. Sponsored children receive clothing
and gifts.
The coalition coordinates with Toys for Tots and the
Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative’s Operation Santa Claus program. The
Dare County Department of Social Service assists in receiving
applications and facilitating donations.
Individual children and
families can be sponsored. Contact Dare Social Services at 252-475-9320
or Megan Vayette at 252-216-7176 to sponsor a family.
For
information on specific toy requests, see the Angel Tree Facebook page
at www.Facebook.com/hatterasislandangeltree. You will be directed where
to drop off or mail your presents for specific requests.
Monetary
donations to the Angel Tree can be mailed to Our Lady of the Seas
Catholic Church, ATTN: Angel Tree, P.O. Box 399, Buxton, NC 27920.
Toys for Tots has several drop-off sites on Hatteras, and all donations
collected on the island are distributed here.
For
Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative’s Operation Santa Claus, you can
drop off toys at the Buxton office on Light Plant Road. Items
can
also be shipped to CHEC, 47109 Light Plant Road, Buxton, NC 27920.
Monetary donations can be sent to CHEC with Operation Santa Claus in
the memo line, P.O. Box 9, Buxton, NC 27920.
Little Grove United
Methodist Church is collecting new coats, hats, and gloves for
distribution on the island. For information, contact Pastor
Cory
Oliver at 252-996-0256. Monetary donations can be sent to Hatteras UMC,
P.O. Box 310, Hatteras, NC 27943.
The Hands of Love organization
plans to provide “sparkle bags” and Christmas dinners for families.
Mail donations to Hands of Love, P.O. Box 43, Frisco, NC
27936.
Contact Kim Martin at 252-996-0919 for more information.
And,
finally, Dare Social Services coordinates gifts for older and disabled
adults and foster children. Contact DSS at 252-475-5500.
If
people need assistance with Christmas, they can complete a form at Dare
County Social Services in Frisco or request one from a school counselor
at either Cape Hatteras Elementary School or Cape Hatteras Secondary
School. The counselors agreed to help this year because of the
anticipated need among families who may not normally receive assistance
through the agency. If a family is not able to pick up an application,
they may request one to be mailed by calling 475-9320.
All
information is kept confidential and private. Sponsored families are
assigned a number before their "needs" and "wants" are distributed to
sponsors. Volunteers working directly with distribution and
planning sign a confidentiality agreement.
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