Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

 

As the holidays approach we are reminded of all there is to be thankful for. What becomes apparent is how much we depend on each other. Especially in times where the world around you races by in an instant, it’s more important than ever to acknowledge your neighbors for the things large and small that they do that bind a community together. Lisa Odom is one of those people doing good work in the community. She is the contact person for Adopt an Angel. This annual Christmas toy drive is something everyone looks forward to every year. Lisa is busy these days, to say the least. In addition to being Executive Assistant at the Cordele Police Department, she has decided to take on Adopt An Angel for 2024. Adopt An Angel is coordinated by a committee consisting of members of: Prevent Child Abuse Crisp Committee, the Gateway Center, the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, Healthy Families, and the Cordele Police Department.

Adopt An Angel is a program created to highlight the problem of child abuse in Crisp County and provide solutions. The organization Prevent Child Abuse was formed in 1988 as a coalition of local citizens with a goal of addressing child abuse and child neglect. Over the years, Adopt An Angel and its partners have worked to bring other organizations on board to ensure toys and funds collected locally go to Crisp County children. The Beauty of this program is the integration of so many entities to make this work every year. It does take a village. The referral process was handled by local agencies like: The Crisp County School System, First Steps/Healthy Families, Fort Valley Head Start, The Gateway Center, the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Cordele Police Department. All these separate entities have to coordinate with each other to compile a list of children and families in need. Hundreds of families will be helped by this program. Neighbors helping neighbors.

Once the committee has chosen all the families that will take part, then the families are assigned a number to keep their names anonymous. The children are allowed to make a “wish list” of items that they would like Santa to bring. The crew at Adopt an Angel moves into high gear. The number of local businesses that take part is astounding. Volunteers from all over Crisp County jump in and it really lifts your soul. Here’s a small list of businesses that are drop-off points for Adopt An Angel: Adams Drugs, Cordele Glass, Marvair, Sunbelt Ford, Ameris Bank, Chick fil A, The Lions Club, Slammin’ Sami’s, Lake Blackshear Baptist, Tractor Supply, and Ollie’s. There’s more, but we would run out of room! One recent change for Adopt An Angel is to team up with Toys for Tots. This great organization has been around since 1947. The Marines saw a need for children to receive toys and they just did it. Semper Fi.

There was a successful toy drive held at the corner of 16^th and Pecan St. in Cordele on Friday. The Crisp County Sheriff’s, The Gateway Center, The Housing Authority, the Police Department, and the Cordele Fire Department all took part with the help of the US Marines. As previously noted, many local churches and businesses have offered their support by giving toys and money for the cause. They are still supporting Adopt An Angel as collection and distribution centers. Some of these collection sites are: Farmers Furniture, Git In My Belly, Michelle’s, Edward Jones, Planters First Bank, and Crisp Regional Hospital.

It truly doesn’t matter about the size of the donation, or the size of the town you live in. It’s what in your heart that counts. That’s the light we are all drawn to. Share your light and your love with your community this holiday season. Adopt An Angel might be something to consider giving to this year. Lisa says “there’s always room for more”.