SURRY COUNTY, N.C.-- For 25 years, Surry County Schools has been partnering with the county's sheriff's office to “Give A Kid A Christmas.” This year was not a break from tradition, buying toys, clothing, and food for kids to wake up to Christmas morning.

  • Last year the program served 700 students plus 250 food boxes for families.
  • It's seeing a decline in funding this year.
  • This year, the big shopping day is December 11.

Superintendent Travis Reeves said it's a huge community effort.

"One of the culminating events of this entire program is the shopping day when all the community comes together at our local Walmart to shop for the angels,” Reeves explained.  "It's really a special day. We see people from all over this community sharing, having fun. We have students involved, teachers, school counselors, and social workers."

He said last year the program served 700 students plus 250 food boxes for families.

"It makes us feel great. Everyone at North Surry really gets excited for it because of all the fun things we do around it, the incentives that we give for people to donate,” said  Ethan Shumate, Student Body President at North Surry High School. “But also just the feeling of we know that we're helping people out in the community around us."

Now, the program needs the community's help now more than ever. It's seeing a decline in funding this year. Even small donations make an impact.

"I had a student one year that brought money to me every day, and just gave me change. One day, it would be two or three pennies. One day it would be 30 cents, he just always gave me money. That year, he was a recipient from the drive itself. Everybody understands they are helping each other out,” said Daron Atkins,  Student Council Advisor at North Surry High School.

This year, the big shopping day is December 11, so the program is hoping for help before then. You can send a donation to Sheriff Atkinson's Give A Kid A Christmas Incorporated at P.O. Box 827, Dobson, North Carolina 27017. You can also drop off donations in person at Surry County Schools or the county's sheriff's office.

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