By Ashley Moton
Holt Journal staff writer
The Give-A-Kid project received a $1,000 grant from the Capital Region Community Foundation last week. Previous grants from New York Life and the Bennie C. Wickens Foundation, and the help of the Holt community, has been keeping the project alive.
Holt United Methodist Church
The History
One chilly day, a young girl came home from school without her coat. Her mother, Carol Gifford, asked her what happened to her coat The daughter said she gave it away to another student because that girl didn’t have one of her own. Gifford then went to her daughter’s school and learned that there were many children without coats. In 1978, Give-A-Kid was established, by Gifford herself.
Give-A-Kid began by giving children coats in the fall. It then expanded to providing backpacks with school supplies inside.
Along with the two giveaways, the project now sets up Christmas trees around Holt with paper ornaments on them. The ornaments include a child’s name, and the presents that they wish for. Residents pick an ornament and buy the present(s) for the child. And at the distribution date, at Holt United Methodist Church, the children receive their gifts from the residents.
In 2010, between the three projects, 1,164 children have received something.
Kari DeRosa and Kris Hummel have been operating the Give-A-Kid project since 1990 after Gifford’s kidney transplant. DeRosa decided to take over the project “because of the need, and helping the children, so they don’t go without”.
Photos by Ashley Moton, Holt Journal staff writer