Holidays are a particularly stressful time of year for many of the families served by the Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford and CannonCounties, said Executive Director Sharon De Boer. 

“Many families are struggling financially and cannot afford to provide Christmas gifts for their children,” De Boer said.

One of the mothers reached out for help this holiday season and said to Family Services Coordinator Jennifer Gamble, “I have been so stressed out about Christmas this year.  My kids made their Santa lists and brought them to me.  I did not think they would have a Christmas this year.”

Gamble matched the family with a church that is helping them this holiday season.

There are many more families that need help this holiday season.  There are four ways that individuals, churches, businesses, and civic groups can get involved during the holidays:

• Sponsor a family with holiday gifts for the children and grocery store gift certificates.
• Sponsor a family with a Wal-Mart or grocery store gift certificates.
• Sponsor theChildAdvocacyCenterthrough a special holiday donation.
• Sponsor the Center and provide items that are needed, such as blank DVD’s, easel board paper, markers, juice boxes, bottled water, caffeine-free cokes, and individually wrapped snacks.

Rev. Kristina Brown ofFirstBaptistChurchsaid the members sponsorChildAdvocacyCenterfamilies.

“FirstBaptistChurchsponsors families each Christmas through theChildAdvocacyCenterbecause we feel the CAC does an outstanding job of caring for the children affected by abuse as well as for their families,” Rev. Brown said. “We are so impressed with the level of confidentiality and have complete trust in the staff at theChildAdvocacyCenter.”

It is not too late to be a Secret Santa and make a child’s Christmas wishes come true this year. 

If you would like to sponsor a needy family this holiday season, please contact Gamble at theRutherfordCountyChildAdvocacyCenterat 867-9000 or Susan Lankheet at theCannonCountyChildAdvocacyCenterat 563-9915.