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Donations needed to buy warm clothing, footwear for Jackson County children in need


Many children who call Jackson County home are in need of warm clothing and footwear for the winter months. A local agency is in need of donations to help purchase those clothes.

The Community Action Agency has 1,200 children in the Jackson area who need to be served by the Warm the Children program this holiday season. At this point, the CAA has received donations to fulfill the needs of about one-third of those 1,200.

“Many of the clients we work with are working but simply don’t make enough money to make ends meet,” said Toby Berry, Chief Executive Officer of the Community Action Agency. “One hundred percent of the funds raised for Warm the Children are utilized to assist families, so those who donate know that every single dollar they give goes to help children in need.”

About $96,000 in donations are needed to fully serve the 1,200 children who applied to and qualified for the program this year. To qualify, children must be 16 or younger and live in a household that is under the federal poverty line for its size. For example, a household that includes a single parent and three children cannot make more than $24,600 a year to qualify.

Avery Oil & Propane, a family-owned propane provider located in Rives Junction, has stepped up in an attempt to help. Avery Oil & Propane will match donations up to $2,500 and has a shopping day set aside Dec. 11 at the Meijer store on Airport Road.

“We do our best to make an impact in the local community beyond just doing business here,” said Troy Avery of Avery Oil & Propane. “We heard that Warm the Children had a need that needed to be filled. Keeping people warm is our business, so getting involved in this program seemed like a natural fit for us. It’s a small way for us to give back to those in need.”

To make a donation that qualifies for a match from Avery Oil & Propane, visit jjwl.org/warmthechildren. There is a simple form to fill out that will lead to PayPal, where a donation can be made. Those donations – up to $2,500 -- will be matched by Avery Oil & Propane.

“The Community Action Agency is grateful for the partnership with Avery Oil & Propane that will provide new winter clothing for children in Jackson County,” Berry said. “Without the financial support of community-minded partners like Avery Oil, we would be unable to provide this opportunity for children.”

The Warm the Children application window runs from mid-August to mid-September each year. Those hoping to apply in 2018 can contact the Community Action Agency anytime starting Aug. 1 next year.

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