Holiday Partners helps local family provide gifts to daughter
Amanda is expecting a baby in December, and she is on bed rest and has been unable to work due to months of pregnancy complications. Still, she wants a joyful Christmas for her 11-year-old daughter.
“We are short on money,” said Amanda, 36, who asked to be identified by her first name only. “I would have been able to work, but I’ve had complications. I was able to work with my last child.”
Amanda, who lives in Rock Hill, worked in home health care, and her husband works in construction. She said her husband has had to take time off from his job over the last five months to take care of Amanda and their daughter.
However, Amanda said she and her husband are happy they will be able to provide Christmas gifts for their daughter this year, thanks to the United Way of York County’s Holiday Partners.
Holiday Partners is a collaborative effort between The Herald’s Empty Stocking Fund and WRHI’s Toys for Happiness that provides toys to brighten the holidays of children across York County.
“Just to be able to have somebody else help us out in a way we couldn’t do with our daughter means a lot,” said Amanda, who has gotten help from the program two previous years.
“It brightens my daughter’s face on Christmas morning,” she said. “I appreciate what it has done.”
Donations of cash and toys are needed quickly, said program coordinator Jeanie Dubrouillet, because volunteers begin choosing and packing gifts for families on Dec. 7 and will continue through Dec. 17.
Holiday Partners serves families with children from birth to age 14. Families who qualify by income can register to receive help at Rock Hill and York locations. Friday is the last day to sign up for assistance.
The program is supported by cash donations from The Herald’s Empty Stocking Fund and new toys donated to WRHI’s Toys for Happiness. The program also gets donations from businesses and individuals in the community.
Amanda said the program has meant a lot to her family at the holidays.
“If I was able to do it,” she said, “I would return the favor.”
Jennifer Becknell: 803-329-4077
Want to help?
Give
▪ Donate to The Herald’s Empty Stocking Fund by mailing donations to or dropping them off at The Herald, 132 W. Main St., Rock Hill, SC 29730. Checks should be made to Empty Stocking Fund, c/o UWYC. For more information on how to contribute, call 803-329-4052.
▪ Donate to WRHI’s Toys For Happiness by dropping off new, unwrapped toys in collection boxes at locations around York County. Local sites include WRHI/Interstate 107 radio stations, 142 N. Confederate Ave., Rock Hill; and the United Way of York County, 226 Northpark Drive, Suite 100, Rock Hill. For information on how to get a donation box placed, call WRHI’s Corree Carelock at 803-324-1340.
Volunteer
Volunteers help the Holiday Partners drive by organizing the toy shop, prepping bags for packing and helping with distribution. For information on how you can help, email HolidayPartnersUW@gmail.com.
Need help?
Friday is the last day families who need assistance can sign up to receive toys for their children through the program. Here’s where you need to go:
Rock Hill – Family Resource Center, Parent Smart, 410 E. Black St., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 803-980-2079. Bilingual assistance available.
York – Family Resource Center, Parenting Partnerships, 37 Pinckney St., 8:30 a.m. to noon; 803-684-1504.
What you need to know to sign up
▪ York County residents only.
▪ Applicant must be a parent or legal guardian.
▪ For children birth to 14 years old.
What you must bring with you
▪ Your photo ID.
▪ Proof of income.
▪ Your DSS family print-out; or your Social Security card and a Social Security card and birth certificate for each eligible child.
To ensure there are enough toys available to meet growing needs throughout York County, please sign up at only one location and with no other assistance program.
Information: unitedwayofyc.org or 803-980-TOYS (8697).
This story was originally published November 28, 2015 at 11:20 AM with the headline "Holiday Partners helps local family provide gifts to daughter."