Falkville Lions provide food, gifts to 60 families
Sixty needy families, most of whom are struggling to put food on the table and didn’t have money to buy gifts for their 152 children, found compassion and a reason for hope last week as participants in Falkville Lions Club’s annual Christmas program. The event was conducted at the fire station on December 18 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Each family received three or more grocery bags filled with canned food, bag of fruit, canned ham, jars of peanut butter and jelly and a Bible. Their children, up to age 17, each received up to three age-appropriate, individually-wrapped gifts and a plate filled with cookies and candy.
Santa Claus greeted families as they arrived to pick up their food and gifts and children were invited to visit with Santa.
“We work through the schools to get names of families in the Falkville School District that need help,” said Lion Arthur Ray Summerford, “and we got more requests this year than ever before. Thankfully, we had the money and volunteer support we needed to meet the need. That’s a credit to the generosity of the many people who had a part in the program.”
Lion Billy Bryan said canned goods were donated through Falkville schools and a can-a-thon sponsored by TV Channel 48 in Huntsville. Cash contributions were made by 16 area churches and many of the toys for children under age five were donated by M&M Auction Co. bidders.
Toys were purchased from a wholesale distributors in Huntsville at a cost of $15 to $18 per child.
Several members of the Falkville High School FFA Chapter and Student Council volunteered to help sort and bag canned goods and fruit, wrap gifts and assist with the distribution of food and gifts. They included Katy Guyse, Travis Blankenship, Tyler Tucker, Lydia Wick, Robert Summerford, Mary Grace Ward, Crystal Morris, Heather Smith and Shane Bryan, FFA advisor.
Volunteers representing the Lions Club Terry Nappier, Billy Bryan, Arthur Ray Summerford and Cecil Mitchell.
Other volunteers were Mayor Jimmie and Sylvia Walker, Josh and Kristin Arnette, Elaine Nappier, Barbara Summerford, and J. C. and Margaret Dunaway.
