What is Sharing is Caring?
Sharing is Caring is presented by representatives from various community agencies in Dalton/Whitfield County who work throughout the year to create a collaborative community Christmas program.
Our goals are simple:
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Provide a similar Christmas for families that we desire for our own families
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Address the complete needs of families and provide resources to help them be able to create their own Christmases in the future
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Protect the families’ dignity by allowing them to choose and give the gifts to their children as well as celebrate Christmas in their own ways
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Create an equality throughout the community of gifts that families will receive; Work together as a whole community to build parent capacity and empower families.
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Our process is as follows:
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At the beginning of the school year (typically after Labor Day), families are given letters that detail the project and give them a schedule of classes offered in the community by various agencies/organizations which cover various topics which might prove valuable to the families in need. Class topics have included budgeting, cooking with leftovers, parenting tips and how to help your child be successful in school. Parents are asked to attend 3 meetings offered September-November for which they will receive a certificate of attendance.
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In November, the Salvation Army holds Application Days at which families bring their 3 class certificates and identification for those in the household. Volunteers help families complete their applications and each family is given an assigned time to shop at the Christmas Store one Saturday in December.
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In December, the community holds the Sharing is Caring Christmas Store at the North Georgia Fairgrounds. Parents come at their designated times to pick out gifts for each child to give at Christmas.
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How is all of this possible?
YOU! We are rely on the generosity of donations from businesses, individuals and foundations to provide quality gifts, clothing and grocery store gift cards to each family. We also rely on our great community volunteers to "man the store" which involves assisting each family with their shopping to ensure that they receive the full value of the program. Some volunteers return every year, but we gladly welcome new volunteers!
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