RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. (WBKO) – The holiday spirit is alive and well in Logan County, as the Concerned Citizens of Logan County prepares to host its seventh annual Christmas shopping event, providing free gifts to families in need.

Executive Director Dorris Vick shared details of the event, which she said aims to bring joy and relief to parents and children during the holiday season.

“This weekend, we are letting parents come out and shop for free,” Vick said. “That’s going to be Saturday at 9 o’clock. Parents will get to shop for each child they have. Then at 3 o’clock, the youth will be able to shop for their parents.”

The event, supported by community donations and fundraisers, ensures families have gifts to place under the tree. This year, Walmart, the city of Adairville and Ski Daddy’s contributed to the effort, alongside monetary donations from individuals and businesses.

“We start collecting every year at the beginning of the year,” Vick said. “We try to catch sales and put items back for Christmas. So, we’ve been saving all year long for this day.”

To participate, families must provide identification and proof that the children live in their household.

“They can’t just go and get some more kids,” Vick said. “They have to show us proof that those children reside with them.”

For Vick, the mission is personal.

“My mother was a single mom, and she had five kids,” she said. “I know what it meant to not have a lot at Christmas time. I hear it all year round — People don’t have money to pay their bills. It breaks your heart. So, it’s very important that we reach out and help as many families as we can.”

Last year, the event served 250 families, and Vick expects an even greater need this year. Beyond Christmas, the organization operates a daily food pantry, which recently distributed 180 boxes of household essentials to senior citizens.

“Times are really hard,” Vick said. “People are just struggling. Any way that we can help someone, this is what God wants us to do. We just continue to reach out and work as hard as we can because, one day, I know we will be rewarded from God.”

The event features brand-new items for families to choose from, and each family will have a limited time to shop to accommodate the high volume of participants.

“If anybody wants to donate, they can drop something off to us,” Vick said. “We want to make sure they have a Merry Christmas. It’s a start.”

Copyright 2024 WBKO. All rights reserved.