Applications will be accepted for one of Gilmer County’s longest running Christmas outreach programs this Saturday.
The Ellijay Lions Club will be signing up families for its White Christmas program from 9 a.m-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Lions Club, 1729 South Main Street.
Applicants need to bring something showing their proof of Gilmer County residency and a Social Security card for all children if available.
“They can fill out the form when they come in. We need to see a Social Security card for the children, but not the parents. If they have a newborn and don’t have (a Social Security card for the child) yet, we can work through that,” said Ruthann Harding, Lions Club member.
The White Christmas program has helped hundreds of local children in past years, but the response was lower than normal last year with a little over 60 kids receiving Christmas presents courtesy of the Lions Club.
“Normally we have anywhere from 60 to 150 kids (signed up),” Harding said. “We’ve had some slower years and some that were overwhelming. We never know what to expect, and whatever happens, we take care of it.”
Harding said White Christmas applications will still be accepted if someone needs the assistance, but misses the Dec. 2 in-person sign-up. Applications are available from Gilmer Family Connection, which has an office at the Larry Walker Education Center (former Gilmer Middle School). The applications can be found just past the front double doors of the building, which also houses Gilmer Mountain Education.
Harding said club members will be doing their White Christmas shopping on Dec. 9, so applications need to be turned in by then. The presents will be distributed Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Lions Club.
To request further details about signing up for White Christmas, call the Ellijay Lions Club at 706-635-5901 and leave a message. Messages are checked daily.