In an annual gift drive hosted by consumer reporter Clark Howard with News/Talk WSB-TV and the Georgia Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS), foster kids across the state received presents and enjoyed holiday cheer they wouldn’t have otherwise had on Christmas morning.
This year’s donation event marks Howard’s 25th anniversary of gathering gifts for foster children. Clark’s Christmas Kids Gift Drive also enlisted the help from U-Haul to deliver the toys and gifts to foster kids all over Georgia, including in Bibb County (pictured). Good Samaritans donated toys to the holiday drive so that volunteers could distribute them, and St. Vincent de Paul set up a webpage for people to contribute monetary donations online.
Valerie Stewart of Georgia’s Department of Human Services said in an email the group was grateful for U-Haul’s participation and assistance in the delivery process.
“Without U-Haul, the foster children in Bibb County would not be receiving these gifts!” Stewart wrote. “Thanks U-Haul for helping us deliver the toys and bringing tears of joy to these foster children who will receive a gift that will truly last a lifetime!”
In a video from the 2014 event posted to Clark Howard’s site, he announced that 100 percent of the children they had set a goal to help had received gifts, all across 120 of Georgia’s 159 counties. Standing in a massive warehouse packed with toys, Howard thanked those who donated gifts so that so many foster children would have a joyous and memorable holiday. At least 50 counties in Georgia–and more than 5,000 children–were served with gifts this year.
When he’s not giving back to the community, Howard is an author, with 10 books published and a weekly column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He also has a nationally syndicated radio show, The Clark Howard Show, where he discusses money management.
It’s no wonder the team chose U-Haul to deliver the presents this year; with such a large quantity of holiday cheer to send out, U-Haul trucks proved to be perfect for the job! Bikes, games, craft kits and a multitude of other toys filled the trucks before heading out to bring smiles to thousands of foster children in need around Georgia.
How have you given to the community this holiday season? Let us know in the comments below!
