HILLSBOROUGH -- The national recession is hitting many people in the pocketbook, but as the holidays approach, the low-income residents of Orange County are especially struggling to make ends meet.
So the Orange County Department of Social Services is recruiting sponsors and donors for the annual county holiday programs. The Social Services programs, in partnership with Toys for Tots and Balloons and Tunes, provide new toys and clothing for low-income, at-risk Orange County children during the holidays.
The agency and its partners recruit donors and sponsors to provide toys, clothing and food to needy Orange County residents. This year, these combined efforts will try to provide toys to more than 5,000 Orange County children.
There are many in Orange County who are not fortunate enough to be able to provide gifts for their families during the holiday season. These families rely on gifts and food donated through the Orange County Department of Social Services to make their holidays a joyous event. Referrals for the program come from the school systems, nonprofit organizations and other county agencies.
"There are many families in our community that are struggling financially right now, and the extra burden of the holidays is just too much for them," said Nancy Coston, director of the Orange County Department of Social Services. "It can be really difficult for parents to explain why there are no gifts to give."
Social Services is operating two holiday programs. Share Your Holiday is a program, in partnership with Balloons and Tunes, that pairs families served by the agency with sponsors from the community.
Families submit wish-lists that often include coats, shoes, and other clothing items, as well as toys for the children. Donors may choose to sponsor a family or give money that will be used to purchase items for families that do not get sponsored.
Social Services is also partnering with Toys for Tots to organize the third annual Orange County Toy Chest. The Toy Chest is a holiday store in which eligible parents can select two to three new toys per child to supplement their holiday.
The Toy Chest is designed to serve families at 200 percent of poverty that are not being served by another DSS holiday program.
Making the holidays brighter for more than 5,000 low-income children in Orange County will not be possible without the support of individuals and businesses in the community.
Anyone interested in donating to the Toy Chest or sponsoring a family through the Share Your Holiday program is encouraged to contact Sharron Hinton at (919) 245-2840. More information is available at www.orangecountync.gov/holidayprogram.
