At least one organization in Butler is no stranger to spreading joy in the spirit of Christmas. Fifteen years ago, a program was started by the members of the Butler Clear Fork Adult Center and the local Butler Lioness Club that shared a vision to bring goodwill and cheer into the homes of those less fortunate at Christmas.
“Holiday Happiness” was established by joining area churches, the Lions and Lioness clubs, local businesses and individuals who work together to provide needy families with gifts for Christmas.
“This program would not be possible without the dedication of our volunteers and the support we receive from local businesses and the people in the community,”said Dorothy Michalovich, treasurer of the Butler Clear Fork Adult Center.
The program is run by a group of five volunteers that includes members of the Butler Lioness Club, members of the Butler community and local Pastor Ken Kinley who also volunteers at the Butler Clear Fork Adult Center located at 20 Henry Street in Butler.
Applications for Holiday Happiness are sent home with Butler Elementary students at the beginning of November. The committee reviews the forms and proceeds with distributing family lists to shoppers and those local businesses and or organizations that expressed a desire to sponsor a family. All information regarding the identity of the families is kept confidential.
“We really try to help as many families as we can here in the Bellville/Butler area,”said Michalovich.
Donations are accepted for the program from area businesses and individuals in the form of gifts for the families or money provided to the committee to purchase items. Additional help from local churches, sports teams, families and individuals who choose to sponsor a family also plays a vital role in the ongoing success of the program.
Donation requests are also put on the Christmas tree at Richland Bank in Butler for those individuals in the community who would like to shop for a gift rather than give financial donations. Gifts can then be dropped off at the center. “We have had good results with this process,”said Michalovich.
According to Michalovich, prior to the start of the Holiday Happiness program the Butler Lioness Club would help three to five families a year. Since the establishment of the program and overwhelming support of the community, hundreds of families have been helped through the years.
In 2011 thirty-six families were helped and in 2012 thirty-four families were provided gifts for Christmas. In addition to the gifts, each family receives a ham or turkey, potatoes and groceries to complete a holiday meal through the Butler Nutrition Program and the Butler Food Pantry. Each family consists of an average of four people.
Four of the committee members do the shopping and wrapping of gifts. Distribution day is typically 2-3 days before Christmas. A letter is sent to the families informing them of the date and time they may pick-up their gifts and food.
Michalovich believes that by having only two committee members present at the center when families pick up their items puts them at ease about the process of receiving help.
Distribution this year is on Monday, Dec. 23 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Michalovich stated,”We have had a rise in donations over the years and we have also had an increase in the number of families we help.”
The only change to the program this year is that the application indicates that clothing, toys and other needs will only be provided for children from birth until graduation from high school. According to Michalovich the change actually enables more families to be helped. She added that the committee believes that Christmas is primarily for children.
“The program has grown through the years and it is our goal to help as many families as we possibly can. It’s all about the children, the look on their faces and knowing that these families are not forgotten at the holidays,” Michalovich said.
Michalovich urges those interested in donating or looking to sponsor a family to call the Butler Clear Fork Adult Center at 419-883-3330.