MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — It’s a community effort that’s been going on for more than a dozen years in the Eastern Panhandle, and this year Christmas Cash For Kids will be helping 500 needy children have a brighter Christmas.
Community members, City National Bank, the West Virginia DHHR, the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle, and WVMetroNews affiliate WEPM make it happen every year.
Becky Linton has helmed the cause for 13 years. She says the fundraising goal was $25,000, but they’ve raised $28,000.
Linton says this year, there were a hundred ‘more’ needy kids in the Panhandle than last year because more grandparents are taking care of children due to the opioid epidemic:
“So, DHHR called and she says there’s going to be 100 more children. So when I met with her I asked what was the reason. She said there’s so many grandparents that are getting these children’.”
Christmas Cash for Kids began 13 years ago when Linton heard about families in need during the holiday season. She says families just need to know someone cares:
‘It was chaos. It was three days before Christmas (and) 150 kids. So my husband and I went and and we delivered presents to this family and I couldn’t find their house. So we looked and looked, it was pouring down rain and we finally found her. She had three kids and I wrapped the gifts so I knew they were cool gifts. I said ‘why didn’t you put your phone number on your paper, I’ve had a terrible time finding you?’. She said ‘they told me there was no hope’.”
Christmas Cash for Kids depends on DHHR caseworkers to identify needy children and provides gifts to children of all ages in a family. Caregivers help pick out the presents.
Story by WEPM’s Marsha Chwalik