For those of you who have the holiday spirit of giving, Pulaski County children are in need of your help.

Two of the three local school districts — Pulaski County School System and Somerset Independent School District — still need help making sure that all their students will have Christmas gifts during the Christmas holiday. Science Hill Independent School District has already seen all its children sponsored.

To help children in the Pulaski County School District, those interested can visit the Pulaski County Courthouse between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to sponsor a child, while those who wish to help a child who attends the Somerset Independent School District should call 679-8689.

“It is evident that families are really feeling the pinch this year, as our referrals district-wide have increased quite a bit,” said Kelly Leigh, coordinator of the Family Resource and Youth Service Centers (FRYSC) at Woodstock and Eubank. “However, I really feel that despite the weak economy, we are still seeing an incredible outpour of support from the community as a whole.”

The Pulaski County School System has more than 835 students on the list to be helped, while Somerset Independent School District is helping 150 families and Science Hill Independent School District is providing 32 students with a better Christmas.

Leigh said that though the angel tree at the courthouse — which holds the specific information such as the child’s gender and age — is traditionally adorned with angels on Dec. 1, the work to orchestrate the holiday assistance for more than 835 Pulaski County students actually began several months ago.

And in developing one of the largest community-wide Christmas assistance programs in the state, the Pulaski County Schools Family Resource and Youth Service Centers, along with those in the other two school districts collaborated along with several community partners to make sure all the children receive something during the holiday.

Leigh explained that in the Pulaski County School System, referrals always begin at the school level where teachers and staff identify children and families whom they feel may be in need of help with Christmas gifts by telling the school’s Family Resource and Youth Service Center located at the school, which then collects the families information.

“From there, the referrals are entered into a centralized data base, so that it may be cross-referenced by participating agencies in attempts to reduce duplication of services,” said Leigh.

Once the referrals are complete, each child’s information is put onto an individual paper angel which is color coded by the referring school.

Leigh explained that all information is kept completely confidential and the angels are identified only by an assigned number system.

“Although many schools’ staff members and student groups, clubs and councils sponsor angels, the need is always great and couldn’t be served without the generous support of the citizens of Pulaski County,” said Leigh.

The gifts are then given to the family to give to the children without their knowledge.

Leigh said the Family Resource and Youth Service Centers ask that people spend a minimum of $35 per child. Angels and gifts should be returned to the courthouse no later than Friday, Dec. 14. For further information, please call 679-1123.

Leigh said the Pulaski County Family Resource and Youth Service Centers would like to thank all the community partners who are helping make this year’s Angel Tree program a success including Pulaski County Department for Community Based Services, Judge Barty Bullock’s office, Canaan Baptist Church, Lake Cumberland Surgery Center, VFW, Eubank Baptist Church, Somerset Mental Health, beacon Hill Baptist Church, Pulaski County Homemakers, St. Patrick’s Preschool, Phoenix Preferred Care, ST. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, East Somerset Baptist Church, Woodmen of the World, Ferguson United Methodist Church, Intrust Health Care, Word of Faith Church, Somerset Community College, SCC Circle of Love, SCC Department of Cosmetology, Redeemer Lutheran, Adanta-Lake Cumberland Impact, Denham Street Baptist Church, HSVC, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Boy Scout Troop 79 & Toys for Tots, New Heart Baptist Church, Bethany House, First Baptist Church, Daisy’s Hair Den, Lake Cumberland Nazarene Church, Northern Pulaski Food Ministry, God’s Food Pantry and many other kind individuals within the community.

Donna Perdue, coordinator for the Somerset High School Youth Service Center, said that though the gifts are primarily sponsored through local churches, civic clubs and private organizations, they still need the community’s help.

“A lot of people who called us this year are people who have lost their jobs,” said Perdue. “That’s something that is different than in the past.”

Perdue said in the Somerset School District they also receive the names of their teachers and staff, then once the Family Resource Center or Youth Service Center receives their name, they collaborate with other agencies to make sure the children are only on one list.

“This year we’ve made a real effort to make sure that we get something for everybody that is needy, not just a few,” said Perdue.

She added that those who give assistance with this project are of tremendous help.

She said they request that the presents be turned in to the Family Resource Center and Youth Service Center at one of the schools between seven and 10 days before school is out for the holiday. The presents are then given to the parents in a way that the children have no idea that the school has been involved.

Sandi Dick, coordinator of the Family Resource and Youth Service Center, at Science Hill School, said they are blessed.

Dick said the school has been able to partner with Forcht Bank and the lodge in Science Hill to provide toys and clothes for the children in need.

“I am so blessed to have the bank and the lodge,” said Dick. “They have made it very easy. The hardest part is just getting the list together.”

Dick also said names on the list are confidential and the items are given to the parents before hand, so they can give them to the children.