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Volunteers helped make Christmas brighter for many through the Andalusia Community Christmas project. (PHOTO PROVIDED)

Andalusia Community Christmas volunteers with bags of toys that were distributed to children at elementary schools in Andalusia, Pleasant Home, Red Level and Straughn. (PHOTO PROVIDED)

Every child who wins a bicycle during the Andalusia Community Christmas Party receives a bicycle helmet from The Pilot Club of Andalusia. Pictured are, from left, Kassidy Lee (AHS Anchor Club member), Shannon Hudson, Millicent Kirkpatrick, and Janice Langston. (PHOTO PROVIDED)

The children who attend the Andalusia Community Christmas Party could get their pictures made with Santa. Pictured, from left, are Amy Park, Susan Carter, Kim Lawrence and Shanna Davis. (PHOTO PROVIDED)

LBW Community College's mascot Blue was also on hand. He is pictured with helpers Taylor White and Madison White. (PHOTO PROVIDED)

Santa was on hand to take pictures with children and also assist with this year's Andalusia Community Christmas. (PHOTO PROVIDED)

The Pilot Club of Andalusia offered helmets to children who won bicycles at the annual Christmas party on Friday, Dec. 15. (PHOTO PROVIDED)

This year's Andalusia Community Christmas was a big success with 284 children from four of the county's elementary schools participating. (PHOTOS PROVIDED)

Andalusia Community Christmas provided 284 Christmas gifts to local boys and girls from the elementary schools of Andalusia, Pleasant Home, Red Level, and Straughn this year.

Chairman Gail Hayes expressed gratitude to the Board of Directors and workers for helping make this year’s event a success.

“It is most heartwarming to realize that the community gave with such generosity,” Hayes said. “So many people were involved by buying gifts, donating money, registering kids, formatting the databases, collecting and organizing packages, and making sure that every child was accounted for shopping for the kids.”

A Christmas party took place Friday, Dec. 15, at the Kiwanis Community Center.

“We were able to host our annual Christmas party thanks to so many individuals, civic clubs, Andalusia High School and LBW Community College students, businesses, foundations and others that made a difference in the lives of so many kids, and their families this Christmas season. We all look forward to doing this again next year,” Hayes added.

Volunteer Jan White also offers help with the annual event each year.

“It takes an army of volunteers to make Andalusia Community Christmas happen. Garrett Davis, youth minister at Carolina Baptist Church, shared the Christmas story from Luke chapter two. The Andalusia Full Gospel Church Puppet Ministry entertained the children with songs. The City of Andalusia Fire Department parked a fire truck in the Kiwanis Building for children to see. LBWCC’s Blue came to welcome the kids and enjoy the party. The Covington County Cowgirls brought a miniature pony the children could see and take a photo standing beside. Pizza was served, and a good time was had by all,” White said.

The Pilot Club of Andalusia and Junior Service League of Andalusia also participated in the program. Each child who won a bicycle during the Christmas party received a complimentary helmet from the Pilot Club. The Junior Service League offered children who were in attendance at the party an opportunity to take pictures with Santa.

Andalusia Community Christmas is a non-profit annual program funded by the citizens, businesses and civic clubs of Andalusia. The program assists families in financial crisis who live in the Andalusia, Straughn, Red Level and Pleasant Home School districts by providing toys and clothing for children ages of two through 10-years-old.

Registration was held on Nov. 4 for this year’s event. Guidelines must be met in order for children to qualify each year.

Tax-deductible contributions can also be mailed to Andalusia Community Christmas, Inc., P.O. Box 1525, Andalusia, AL 36420. FEIN# 20-0211790

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