2011
Santa Pal Project is underway!
“It’s
the most wonderful time of the year”. What a perfect line from a true Christmas
Classic. Every
member of the Optimist Club of Asheville,
N.C. truly and honestly believes this, too.
The Santa Pal project began 75 years ago in the basement of one of the club
members. The
toys were donated or bought by the club members
and then distributed to the underprivileged
children of the Asheville
and
Buncombe
County
area. Throughout
the years, the club, as well as, the need for
Christmas toys, grew by leaps and bounds.  The
club members saw a drastic need to house the
toys in a building in downtown
Asheville,
but did not have the funds available to pay for
the rent. The
merchants of the downtown area
wanted to help play a role in helping the
children and would help find a building each
year to keep this project going. Also jumping in to help were the local
newspaper, radio, and television stations. With all of this publicity,
Santa Pal
became a household name around town at
Christmas. We
have been giving, not only toys, but much joy,
laughter, many unimaginable surprises, and a
tremendous amount of love to the children who
need help at Christmas. As a club, we want to continue passing
this “Most Wonderful Time”
on to the families that are struggling to make
ends meet. Santa Pal will always be here to
keep the joy of giving very much alive and well.
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Help
Make Christmas a Wonderful Time
Due
to so many unforeseen events in 2011, many more
families will be in dire need this Christmas.
We are asking for our community to pull
together and help us make this Christmas a very
special time for everyone. Please open your hearts and help us bring
the joy that every child should have. You can make this season much brighter
with your donation and help make memories that
will last a lifetime. Last year we gave new toys to over
3000
children.
The goal for 2011 is $50,000. All
financial support is greatly appreciated. Thank
you in advance for your tremendous help and
support.
The next few weeks will be an
important time for us. We are sponsoring several
events to help bring joy to a family this year.
Please look at the events page and help make the
activities a success. Tell friends and family
about the program. Remember that our success depends on you!
Thanks
from the Santa Pal Team.
The Saint Nicholas Project
Together with Asheville’s Optimist Club’s Santa Pal, KISS-FM, Toys for Tots, the Sunrise Kiwanis Club, Asheville Parks and Recreation Department, Wilsonart International, and many other businesses and individuals, the
Saint
Nicholas Project
provides  Christmas gifts, clothes, food, and other items to the children and families that the Eblen Charities works with throughout the year. Relying on the expertise and generosity of Asheville’s oldest children’s Christmas assistance program, Santa Pal (founded in 1936), and help from Toys for Tots along with generous sponsorship of businesses and individuals, hundreds of families have had their Christmases a bit brighter and gained hope for the coming year.
Applications
will be taken for children ages beginning November
16, through
December
9, 2011.
Office hours will be from:
We are serving ages 0-12 and 13-18 if they have a younger sibling participating in the 0-12 program.
Santa
Pal Application Office
Headquarters
-- Westgate, behind Earth Fare in the old Bon Marche unit. - Asheville, NC 28805
828-258-3230
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Press
Release
10-15-2011
Applications
will be taken for children,
beginning November 16, 2011, through December 9,
2011.
Office hours will be from:
10:00
a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday
- Friday
We are serving ages 0-12 and 13-18 if they have a younger sibling participating in the 0-12 program.
OPEN
@ 10:00 am -4:00pm
Our
headquarters
will be in the Westgate, behind Earth Fare in the old Bon Marche unit.
We will have signs in the
windows. Each applicant
must have a LEGAL picture ID when applying.
They can apply for their own children between the
ages of 2 and 12. Applicants must bring
either the child's social security card, birth
certificate, and proof that they receive Medicaid,
free lunch, and any other type of assistance.
The applicants can only apply for toys if they
haven't received help from any other organization., and if they do not speak English, they
must have a translator with them.
Donations can be sent to:
Santa Pal
P.O. Box 1912
Asheville, N.C. 28802
Eblen-Kimmel
Foundation
www.eblencharities.org
We are pleased to announce the co-sponsorship with
the Eblen-Kimmel Foundation. The Eblen-Kimmel Charities is a non-profit organization whose outreach extends throughout the counties of western North Carolina and through its numerous programs has helped thousands upon thousands of families each year with medical and emergency assistance.
Founded in 1991 in Asheville, NC by Joe Eblen, President of the Biltmore Oil Company, as the Eblen Foudation we has become one of North Carolina’s most innovative and effective social enterprises. Within its first decade, the Eblen Foundation has grown from assisting 300 families with one program during its first year to assisting tens of thousands of families with nearly 60 programs yearly throughout western North Carolina.
Asheville OptimistsThe Asheville Optimist Club was formed in 1923 and has served the children of Asheville since. The club hosts programs such as Oratorical Constests and Essay Constests for local students as well as gives local students an opportunity to be awarded Scholarship dollars. Additionally the club hosts a program annually called Santa Pal which provides Christmas to low income families donates to the Optimist International Childhood Cancer Program. Each Optimist Club determines the needs of the young people in its community and conducts programs to meet those needs. Every year, Optimists conduct 65,000 service projects and serve well over six million young people. Optimist International is an association of more than 2,900 Optimist Clubs around the world dedicated to "Bringing Out the Best in Kids." Adult volunteers join Optimist Clubs to conduct positive service projects in their communities aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. With their upbeat attitude, Optimist Club members help empower young people to be the best that they can be.
Santa Pal phone number:
828-258-3230
Brian
Boatright–
Chairman
forthekids@santapal.org
Send
Your Donations To:
Santa
Pal
P.O. Box 1912
Asheville, N.C. 28802
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