Sharing is Caring returns this year

Published 11:59 pm Friday, December 11, 2015

Almost 20 carts filled with dolls, shoes, coats, clothes, miniature cars, board games and other toys lined register 19 Wednesday morning at Wal-Mart on Walnut Avenue. Volunteers with the Sharing is Caring Christmas Club spent the morning purchasing the items for less fortunate children in the area.

Also known as Dalton-Whitfield Community Christmas, Sharing is Caring is a community-based project started in 2010 to provide Christmas for children in Whitfield County whose family circumstances might prevent them from receiving Christmas gifts.

The items were purchased with donations from local churches, businesses and organizations, with an additional $2,500 check from the Wal-Mart Foundation.

“We are very proud to support Sharing is Caring to help kids in our community have a Christmas,” said Rick Bartlett, store manager.

In addition to the check the store also provides a 10 percent discount.

“We make sure the store is fully stocked with merchandise they are looking for,” said Bartlett.

The volunteers who were shopping were also provided with a Wal-Mart employee to assist them.

Jackie Taylor, financial donations coordinator for Sharing is Caring, said the accommodations at Wal-Mart help the process go smoothly.

“Today we shopped for kids whose parents will come to the fairgrounds on Dec. 17 and 19 to choose gifts for their children,” Taylor said. “Those parents will receive three gifts per child.”

Requirements for the program include classes and meetings for the parents where the intent is to build their ability to be more independent in the future.

“We understand that everyone has a tough time now and then and we want to be able to assist people during the hard times,” said Taylor. “We also give them the skills and knowledge to be able to help themselves in the future.”

Taylor said thousands of dollars were collected from businesses and organizations for the program. Churches also collect items to donate. This year more than a thousand children will benefit from the donations.

Taylor has volunteered since the program’s inception.

“We wanted to organize and collaborate as a community instead of everyone doing bits and pieces,” she said of all the organizations coming together as one. “It’s been an amazing process.”

Jackie Hall is also a volunteer.

“I’m just one of many, there are many others as well,” said Hall who assisted with the shopping.

“It’s a great program that offers parents the opportunity to participate in choosing a gift for their child as well as the courses and classes giving them new training,” she said.

Hall said maybe next year parents can use the knowledge and information as a stepping stone.

“Sometimes I think some people don’t know what’s available and how they can improve or help their situation,” she said. “This program offers both. We try to educate the parent or guardian as well as offer a child a gift at Christmas.”

Taylor said a letter about Sharing is Caring goes home with every child in Dalton and Whitfield County public schools and also those at day cares.

“Any parent that chooses to participate and meets the income limits can,” she said.

Bre D’Arienzo is the toys and clothes coordinator for Sharing is Caring.

“Parents are given appointed times to come and shop with the help of a personal shopper to help navigate around the store,” said D’Arienzo.

The parents are able to select age-appropriate items for their children.

There are volunteers assigned to different areas to assist the parents, including JROTC students who help take items to the car.

Hall said it’s a wonderful sight to experience.

“It’s like a snowball once you see it in action,” she said.

The program also provides families with gift cards to purchase Christmas dinner. In the past families were given boxes of food.

“Families have different traditions and we want to honor those,” said Taylor of the parents being able to buy what they choose to cook.