Youngs keep up their gift-giving tradition
(pictured above: John Young sorts through toys.)
Santa has local elves working hard to make sure every child has a merry Christmas this year.
The Potter’s House Family Resource Center has again opened its Santa’s Last Stop, an outreach program that helps families by providing food and toys for kids. The program is designed to help those who may have missed out on receiving help from the Salvation Army and other agencies. Santa’s Last Stop takes requests for assistance up until Christmas Eve.
“There are a number of people, for whatever reason, forget, don’t qualify or don’t apply for assistance through other agencies. They can come to us and we’ll help them,” said John Young, who founded Christian-centered The Potter’s House with his wife, Pansy. “We also help those who are working and are not receiving assistance. They may not have the finances to get what is needed for Christmas.”
Pansy Young said the holiday assistance program began in 1992 after an experience she had at another holiday-giving agency.
Pansy Young
“I was volunteering at the Christmas Toy Shop downtown on Christmas Eve. We had just finished up and closed when this man came knocking on the door asking for help,” said Pansy Young. “He said he was just released from jail, his four children were with his grandmother and he had nothing for them. We filled four boxes up for his children.”
The first year of the program, 45 East Winston families were helped. This year, the program expects to serve about 150 families.
“The need gets greater every year,” she said. “More people, by word of mouth, have heard about what we do.”
Volunteers help sort the toys that are donated by partner agencies, businesses, churches and social and civic organizations. The Youngs know that various circumstances prevent parents and guardians from having gifts for children. Though they do try to vet applicants to determine if there is an actual need, the folks the program serve don’t have to jump through the hoops required by other programs.
“I want to help the people who need help for the children’s sake. Some parents may not be responsible, but the children are not responsible for irresponsible parents. Because of that, we do our best to help them in any way we can,” Pansy said.
To learn about receiving assistance or to donate, call 336-724-0023 and leave a message for Pansy. The agency is looking for toys for children up to 12 years of age, gifts for teenagers including jewelry, clothing, gift cards and electronics.
