Joy Fund beginning to make a difference

Thanks to the progress made collecting Joy Fund donations (totaling $72,762.30 at the hour of this post), holiday giving projects are starting to receive the support they need.

1. Caddo Council on Aging is preparing meals for 1000 homebound seniors and goody bags for seniors at eleven sites.
2. Joy Home for Boys will buy shoes for 22 boys and provide a Christmas event.
3. Johnny Gray Jones Regional Shelter will purchase Christmas gifts for the youth housed at the shelter who ordinarily would not have a Christmas at all.
4. Bossier Council on Aging is delivering Christmas stockings to 500 homebound clients.
5. Biedenharn Center for Women’s Issues will help make Christmas better for 12 women and 16 children.
6. Community Support Programs will provide toys and gifts for abused and neglected children and teenagers.

Other Joy Fund projects include efforts by the Salvation Army; Providence House; Northwest Louisiana Interfaith Pharmacy; Volunteers of America of North Louisiana; Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal; MLK Health Center and The Philadelphia Center.

As annual givers understand, we give a major portion of the fund to the Salvation Army every year ($52K in 2006), buying clothes, blankets, food and gifts for the homeless and underprivileged they serve. This year they will provide gifts for 2,000 families. The Providence House and Volunteers of America have received as much as $20K in good years, bringing Christmas toys and gifts to families and children in their care programs (The after-school LightHouse program is one example). The Philadelphia Center will provide a special event/toys for children touched by AIDS.

Reaching our goal ($100K) will serve the holiday projects mentioned. Exceeding the goal allows some additional projects to receive help just like last year.

More requests keep coming. I have a folder of not-yet-funded events and toy projects for underprivileged children served by churches and agencies in our coverage area.

Please continue to give.