Local organizations assist holiday needy
By Melissa Multack Special to the Kansan
If you have ever wondered what you can do to help people less fortunate than yourself, keep reading. Your holiday can be blessed by helping others.
"Remember that the holiday season is a time for joy and sadness," said Barbara Ballard, psychologist and a director of the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center. She said that it was important to remember those who do not have the luxury of a happy holiday, such as battered women and children living at the Transitional Care Center.
You may not be able to make someone's holiday merry, but every little bit helps, said Wendy Kahn, a staff member of the center. The center is a shelter for abused women and their children.
The center has a few ways for the public to help. Every year the center holds a Christmas dinner for the women and children staying there, Kahn said. Monetary or food donations for the dinner are a great way to make a difference in someone's life.
Every year since 1983, Head Start Community Children's Center, 925 Vermont St., has sponsored a Christmas party for the children and families involved in the program, said Charline Freitag, director. Head Start is a program for less fortunate children. They provide dental and medical screening, and they have a social worker on staff.
"Sometimes it's the only Christmas the
Donated gifts are given to Head Start children, Freitag said. The party includes approximately 340 children, and Santa Claus will come to take pictures with them, she said.
The party will cost approximately $4,000. Cash and toy donations would be greatly appreciated by the staff and the children.
children get," Freitags said.
Another program to help needy children is the Salvation Army's option to adopt a family.
"We want to make sure all kids have a merry holiday," Capt. George Windham said. People can adopt a family through the Salvation Army, 946 New Hampshire St., and donate food and toys to the needy family, he said.
Lawrence stores also help the needy.
Wal-Mart, 3100 Iowa St., has a program to help deprived children during the holidays. Bonnie Tennyson, Wal-Mart chair for in-store activities, said that the store tried to reach needy children and teens through both the Angel Tree and Toys for Tots and Teens.
Children decorate a Christmas tree at Wal-Mart with cut-out angel figures, Tennyson said. The tree is named The Angel Tree. Each angel belongs to a child, and customers pick out an angel and buy a present for the child it represents, she said. The Salvation Army provides sizes and ages of the children. Tennyson said all names of donors and recipients are confidential.
Organization works so kids won't go toyless
High-tech gifts strain budgets
By Chad Ferguson Special to the Kansan
With the influx of computer games and technologically advanced toys, it seems as though Santa's elves must need a master's degree in electrical engineering to put out the types of toys children want these days.
Some parents say they believe that there is a distinct correlation between children's age and the price of the toys and games they want for Christmas.
Barbie Dolls and Tonka trucks no longer suffice as adequate gifts for Christmas. This puts an unnecessary burden on parents who now need to spend more money on their children to make them happy.
Marty Welland, an Overland Park mother of two, agreed.
"Years ago I could buy a ton of toys for my kids and keep them happy," said Debra Willett, an Overland Park mother of three. "But now I spend the same amount of money, they each open three presents and it's over."
"Once they started getting older, they started wanting stereos and computer games," she said. "I guess they had all of the Hot Wheels and Nerf footballs they could handle."
Larry Cornelius, store manager at Fun and Games, 816 Massachusetts St., said that he did not notice a great increase in prices because of science and technology.
"Prices now, after inflation, aren't much
different than they were ten years ago," he said.
Cornelius also said the more expensive toys were less likely to be bought this year.
"We've really gotten back to the basics," he said.
He said that he expected dinosaurs and other simple, inexpensive toys to dominate sales this year. He said that a lot of video games and other more complex toys will be purchased but sees that as the exception, not the rule.
Cornelius is referring to toys that young, elementary-aged children would want. Junior high students have been exposed to the more technological toys and games and want those for Christmas.
"I think it is very true that as kids get older, they want more expensive things. It's not that they are being malicious, it's just what they want," Willett said.
One advantage to these types of gifts is that they outlast the average Nerf football by years. Once a computer or stereo is purchased, parents do not have to worry about replacing it the next year with a new one.
Also, parents can avoid buying their children gifts that they will use for only a few months after Christmas by purchasing a technologically advanced product. Once these are purchased, parents can buy a few new games or compact discs to keep their children content.
Younger children seem to want more simple, basic toys, but for those who no longer have elementary-aged children, these more expensive purchases are difficult to avoid.
Left:
Joanna Hendry
South Jr.
High
7th grade
The best thing about the K-Youth program is:
"You don't have to hear the teacher talk."
Right: Jordan Schaecher Quail Run 2nd grade I designed my ad this way because : "I wanted to win."
December 8, 1993 K-you • COMMUNITY
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