THOMASVILLE – With the help of hundreds of sponsors, Fairgrove Family Resource Center is ensuring that about 400 children have gifts for Christmas.

As part of its annual Gifts from the Heart program, the center is seeking for sponsors to purchase items for children. The program is offered to families who are experiencing financial difficulty, said Terri Nelson, the center’s executive director.

“Right now, we need sponsors daily because there are people who are requesting the help and need help,” she said, adding that the center hopes to have a sponsor for every child and family by Thursday.

Nelson said sponsors will receive a shopping list, which includes a child’s clothing needs and a few of the child’s wants. Each child is assigned a number to protect their identity. Guidance counselors and teachers select the families who need the assistance the most.

“This year, the need is worse because people who in the past were sponsors are actually asking for help this year, so it’s a completely different environment now than last year,” Nelson said. “If you are already in financial crisis trying to find out what you are doing for Christmas makes it worse.”

Nelson said the program provides gifts for students at Fair Grove, Brier Creek and Pilot elementary schools, Brown Middle and East Davidson High School, as well as all of the schools in the Thomasville City system.

Nelson is asking for people who would like to purchase gifts for a child or family to call the center at 472-7217. Those who would rather make a donation toward Gifts from the Heart can send checks made out to Fairgrove Family Resource Center with GFTH on the “memo line” section of the check. Checks should be sent to the Fairgrove Family Resource Center, P.O. Box 950, Thomasville, N.C., 27361.

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