December 18, 2009
Community Gives to Crittenton Christmas Gifts Program
Above: Wrapping gifts for Crittenton Services residents are Crittenton Services Case Manager Megan McGee, Program Services Coordinator Amy Higgs, 16 year old Girls Scout volunteer Theresa Whorton and the leader of Girl Scout Troup 3075 from Moundsville, Cindy Whorton.
Children and young women living in Crittenton Services’ residential home will enjoy a happier Christmas this year thanks in no small part to the generous outpouring of gifts donated by a variety of community organizations, businesses and individuals. Several churches and universities have sponsored giving trees, allowing members, employees and students to buy a gift for one adolescent girl or child in the care of Crittenton Services.
“These young women are displaced in so many ways,” said Crittenton Services Vice President of Residential Services Tracee Chambers. “Many of them have never known many of the blessings most of us take for granted, such as Christmas presents. Often, they have babies of their own, and all they want is to give their children happier lives than they have so far lived.”
According to Crittenton Services Chief Executive Officer and President Kathy Szafran, Christmas giving to girls in the residential program has become a tradition with several organizations. “Our staff organizes the wish list and buys some of the gifts, but it is really the community that comes through for us.”
Among the organizations contributing to Crittenton’s gift program are Bethany Memorial Church, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Christ United Methodist Church, St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church, West Liberty University and Wheeling Jesuit University. Girls Scout Troup 3075 also donated gifts and volunteers to help wrapping the gifts.
Szafran noted that people seem to understand that especially in challenging economic times, community support of services Crittenton provides is more important than ever. She added, “To our residents, who have often only experienced the world as a hostile place, this outpouring of generosity can really touch their hearts and help.
Crittenton Services, Inc. is a local nonprofit service operating behavioral health, maternity and childcare services to families in West Virginia and the tri-state area. The Crittenton Residential Program is the only gender-specific residential program in the state dedicated to young women aged 12-18 who are parenting or have other extraordinary life challenges.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Butch Maxwell
(304) 242-7060, ext. 133