Project brings joy at Christmastime

The holidays are no time to have to do without. Too often, families are forced to endure difficulties due to layoffs, loss of incomes, sickness, etc. It is once again time for the community to help these families get through this time of great need.

Project Joy is the annual Christmas food and toy drive to aid needy Whitehouse families. Last year, groups came together and helped more needy families than ever before with food and gifts for Christmas.

Whitehouse ISD, along with churches and organizations in Whitehouse, worked together to make Project Joy 2005 a great success. Cain, Brown, Higgins and Holloway held one of the biggest food drives ever. The high school and junior high school worked very hard to raise a record amount of money to buy toys and gifts for all the children in these families. Several teachers responded to individual families by personally providing gifts and food.

The Ministerial Alliance and local churches helped to raise money to purchase perishable foods. Tyler Metro Church provided the location where the volunteers prepared the boxes of food, and Philadelphia Blessing provided extra food. Many volunteers, Whitehouse High School students along with Chick-Fil-A of Tyler provided 20 new bicycles. Brookshire Grocery Store in Whitehouse partnered with the group to provide extra food, roasting chickens and Spirit Christmas boxes.

"Working together and helping each other during these times can and will make Whitehouse an even stronger community," said Ray Baldwin, Project Joy coordinator.

Again this year, the opportunity is there for everyone to help. Watch for information at local schools, churches and organizations and join in this effort. For more information contact Ray Baldwin at 903-352-0039.