Fairfield service club delivers Christmas to 40 families, 100 children

Fairfield Rotary will help 40 families and more than 100 children in the area have a Christmas this year.

The service organization has conducted a Christmas Project since the mid-1980s, providing gifts to children in the Fairfield School District who come from families in need. And each year, the organization tries to do more, said Rotarian Linda Yarger

“We have a lot of families in the community that without our support would not otherwise have Christmas,” she said. “The Rotary thinks it’s important we take care of our community.”

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The Christmas Project is funded by money raised in its spring auction, which is April 17 in 2020, and each Rotarian is provided names of children to purchase gifts. They make their lists after contacting parents or guardians to see what they want for Christmas.

In addition to some of the essentials, like coats, shoes, socks, and other needed items, but also toys and other fun things kids want for Christmas.

“There’s no better feeling in the world than giving,” said Yarger.

Fairfield Rotary is partnering this year with Jungle Jim’s, Meijer’s, Johnny V’s, Fairfield Food Pantry, Chick-fil-a and Beiersdorf, Inc. Yarger said they allow the club “to do more than we might normally be able to do,” and now they can provide everything for a Christmas dinner, and additional groceries and some toiletries.

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Rotarians will purchase the gifts ahead of Dec. 20, which is when the club’s members will caravan to Jungle Jim’s to shop for food. Rotary members then deliver the groceries and gifts — which were wrapped at a wrapping party — to the homes of the families being supported.

“It’s just wonderful and everybody is full of the Christmas spirit,” she said.

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