BENTON COUNTY — Sharing and Caring of Benton County will accept applications for its annual Christmas-present giveaway from Oct. 5 through Oct. 23 at the First United Methodist Church in Bentonville.
The program is designed to match families in need with sponsors who would like to help make a child's Christmas special, said Irene Medrano, director of Sharing and Caring.
"It has been a tough year. Parents do not have any resources. They cannot make ends meet right now, let alone at Christmas time," Medrano said.
Through Sharing and Caring, applicants are matched with sponsors who help them with Christmas presents.
Applicants to the program will be screened to make sure they meet certain income requirements and will also be cross referenced with other area nonprofits to ensure that they are not getting help with Christmas presents from more than one agency, Medrano said.
Those who wish to apply for Christmastime help from Sharing and Caring must bring their Social Security cards or school ID numbers for the children being enrolled in the program, photo IDs for both parents of the children, proof of family income (a recent check stub, letter from an employer or a copy of an unemployment check), proof of residency (a copy of a recent utility bill) and a copy of the family's 2008 Federal Income Tax Return.
Sharing and Caring of Benton County is for Benton County residents whose children are enrolled in the Benton County School
Applications will be accepted from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays and from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays at the United Methodist Church, 201 N.W. Second St. in Bentonville from Oct. 5 through Oct. 23.
On Oct. 10, applications will be accepted at the Boys and Girls Club in Siloam Springs, 655 Heritage Court, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
News, Pages 7 on 09/23/2009