By Colton Elrod
DURANT – The best part about Christmas for most kids is likely opening presents.
News presented by First United Bank.
But some kids wake up and have nothing under the tree waiting to be unwrapped. This is why the Give a Kid a Christmas Project was established. It ensures parents that their children will receive new clothing for the cold winter and a few toys.
The Durant Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle and DHS Student Council team up to execute this project. They do fundraising activities and accept private donations in order to acquire the funds necessary to carry out this project.
Last year, the group raised $3,700, which allowed it to give 37 kids a Christmas. The goal this year is to raise at least $4,000. That would give the group a chance to bless 40 kids with a Christmas, if it were to spend $100 on each kid. The families that are helped are kept anonymous as a matter of dignity.
Dax Chapman, a student council member, said being a part of something like this is special.
“The feeling that you’re putting in time to get stuff for someone that you may never meet, but knowing that it made their year makes helping out with the event very special”.
The students will gather the week before Christmas to purchase the gifts for the children. Students will be placed in small groups and be assigned a child to shop for. If this continues to be successful, the FCA would like to carry this as a tradition.