Thanksgiving Assistance Program
By: Crystal Hale, Department of Social Services Director
Orange County DSS distributed over 300 Thanksgiving meals and/or Walmart gift cards. An anonymous donation of two hundred 200 $25 Walmart gift cards combined with food boxes full of groceries and turkeys donated by local churches, citizens, and other organizations helped to make this project successful. A special thank you to our anonymous gift card donor and also to the Piedmont Area Chapter - Wild Turkey Federation for donating fifty (50) boxes of food with turkeys. Many Orange County Department of Social Services (OCDSS) staff worked tirelessly to ensure the applications were collected and screened and also to coordinate, participate, and facilitate the distribution prior to Thanksgiving. The Extension Office assisted by providing space to stage the food distribution. We also had assistance with the heavy lifting of carrying food to the client's vehicles by four (4) Orange County High School (OCHS) Seniors - Drew Clay, Luke Jarrell, Blane Jennings, and Ethan Turner. These young men were a huge help.
OCDSS employees Tabatha Rhoades and Crystal Hale with PAC Wild Turkey Federation representative Lee Wilson
OCDSS employees Johanny Paniagua, Lara Lam, and Teresa Latimer during Thanksgiving Distribution.
OCDSS employees Chrystal Shifflett, Kellie Honeycutt, and Kim Downin were ready to help clients during our Thanksgiving Distribution.
OCHS seniors Luke Jarrell, Drew Clay, Blane Jennings, and Ethan Turner helped with Thanksgiving distribution.
Orange County DSS partnered with the numerous citizens, organizations, and local civic groups to provide Christmas gifts to over two hundred fifty (250) older and disabled adults. The community came together in a big way to help ensure that all eligible applicants received Christmas gifts. Many OCDSS and Orange County staff assisted by adopting and delivering. This program is an excellent way to reach some of our most isolated and vulnerable citizens who may otherwise go without a visit or gift. Christmas Assistance Program
We also partnered with OCHS Student Council Association (SCA) and the OCHS Dead Tattooed Tree Society to collect and wrap gripper socks for over 350 older and disabled adults. The socks were delivered throughout the County to local adults by OCDSS staff.
Magician performing magic tricks at the LOW Foster Family Christmas Dinner.
OCDSS staff collected, screened, and recorded applications for the Orange County Toy Box and as of December 8, 2022, we had collected applications for 670 children. All applications were then transferred to the Orange County Toy Box to fulfill the need. Through a partnership with Lake of the Woods (LOW) Church, our annual Christmas Party for OCDSS foster children, foster families, and OCDSS Family Services staff was held on Friday, December 2, 2022. LOW Church provided a beautifully decorated venue, dinner, a magician, and invited Santa Claus to attend and surprise the children and staff with gifts. Lake of the Woods Church always goes all out to make sure the children and OCDSS staff are recognized and feel special. This was a fun night for all!
OC Citizen Jeff Dotson delivering gifts to an adopted adult.
OCDSS employee Bernice Washington loading up presents to deliver to adopted adults.
Page 20 | December, 2022
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