The annual Perry County Gift Drive, which began in 2014, is entering its 12th year of providing gifts for families in the community during the holiday season.
Kate Tarrilon, marketing manager of SEMCO stone, said that SEMCO, along with other local businesses make the drive possible by collecting donations throughout Perryville.
“We want to make sure we’re getting our message out,” Tarrilon said. “Because this program has been going on for almost 15 years and a lot people still don’t know about it. This is a gift drive where we collect like kids wish lists and then get the word out throughout the community, however we can. There’s several participating businesses that act as a collection point for the gifts to be dropped off. And then they bring them to SEMCO, who sorts them and then gets them to the families, along with the school district.”
Businesses currently involved in the drive along with SEMCO include Citizens Electric, First State Community Bank, Bank of Missouri, Robinson Companies, Therapy Solutions, Winkler Plumbing and Heating, Gilster Mary Lee, Robinson Outdoor, and the Perry County School District #32.
Families who have received donations and those who have participated in the program have shared their stories on the drive’s website, detailing how the generosity of people who have donated have helped them during what can be a difficult time for those in need.
“When I was a child, I would not have known what it was like to open Christmas presents on Christmas morning had it not been for programs like this, and the generous people in our community,” said one anonymous donor. “It is important to me, now that I am an adult, that I give back and make the Christmas of the children in need in our community a brighter one.”
“I was very grateful for the program because those were the only presents that we received sometimes,” another donor said. “I always said I would give back to my community the way it was given to me.”
To purchase a gift for the drive, or for more information, you can visit https://mailchi.mp/0244b9999374/perry-county-christmas-gift-drive.
There are four categories of gifts that can be donated to the drive: Coats & Hoodies, Shoes, Warmth, Toys & Other Wishes.
Gifts must have bar codes blacked out, must be individually wrapped, be delivered by December 9th, and have the number of the recipient of the gift that will be given when signing up on the gift tag.
Gifts can be delivered to any of the participating locations.
