Registration for families has begun

It's time to start thinking about Christmas and the Blue Santa Toy Drive for the families of Hopkins County. Oct. 14 was the first official day that families could register to receive assistance with toys this Christmas. The registration process is handled through CANHelp, located at 613 Gilmer St.

In a recent interview, CEO Brian Crump talked about the process, and how the community really gets involved to share and bless others during the holiday.

“This community is phenomenal, and provides just the right kind of environment that we want to raise our children in, and where we can make a difference individually,” Crump said. 'Blue Santa is one of those great giving opportunities. CANHelp is blessed to be a part of the process by providing the administrative vetting of the applications, and forming a master list of the families which qualify to receive the assistance.”

Angela Price, administrative assistant to Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum, explained Blue Santa is a law enforcement community program. Registration for families wishing to be part of Blue Santa began Monday, Oct. 14. Residents of Hopkins County can go to canhelponline.org, download the paperwork, fill it out, then, return it to CANHelp. Families can also register in person in the CANHelp offices.

Soon, blue barrels will be placed in shopping areas throughout the county. Donations of toys purchased for Blue Santa then can be dropped into the barrels designated for Blue Santa Toy Drive. When a barrel if full, another barrel will take its place. Toys may also be dropped off at local law enforcement agencies, including Hopkins County Sheriff's Office and Sulphur Springs Police Department.

“We also invite people to donate bicycles and other larger toys during the Christmas Parade on Friday night, Dec. 6, in downtown Sulphur Springs,' Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson said.

From 7 a.m and 7 p.m Friday, Dec. 6, toys and monetary donations will be accepted in Walmart parking lot. A barbecue sandwich lunch, a traditional feature of the Blue Santa program, will also be offered starting at 11 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Blue Santa Toy Drive for a requested minimum donation amount per lunch. Money raised that day go to the Blue Santa program to provide Christmas toys for local children.

According to Price, 'We need, on the average, toys for around 600 kids ages 1-14. This year, volunteers will distribute the toys to the registered applicants in drive-up lanes at Shannon Oaks Church on Saturday Dec. 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. There will not be toys available to assist anyone not registered.”