Care Share, a volunteer effort that assists families in need in the Putnam City district, will provide Christmas presents to 1,139 children (376 families) this year. Care Share was started 28 years ago by a counselor at Putnam City's Northridge Elementary School. In the earliest years of the program, about 50 families (150 children) received help in order to make Christmas possible. By the mid-1990s that number had climbed to 150 families and 500 children. Last year, Care Share made it possible for 400 Putnam City families with 1,025 children receive Christmas presents.

Care Share Coordinator Sherri Boyd reports that needs in the district are not limited to any single ZIP code. "Needs are needs, wherever they are. We provide Care Share help to families in every school in the district."

Many gifts of toys and clothing come through the generosity of Putnam City students, PTAs, parents, and staff. Other gifts are recieved by churches, businesses, and people who used to have students in the district.

People who wish to be a part of the Care Share effort can help in two ways-1) adopt a family, or 2) make a donation

Those who choose to adopt are given a list of needs of each child in the family. Gifts are delivered to the school where families in need will pick them up shortly before Christmas. Second, Care Share volunteers "shop" for families who have not yet been adopted with donated funds.

Care Share also helps throughout the year by providing coats and shoes to students through the Coat Closet located at Apollo Elementary.

If you are interested in helping with Care Share, contact the Putnam City Foundation at 405-495-5200 x1205 or email dfloresca@putnamcityschools.org Donations are also accepted through our website at www.pcf4kids.org Just click the "Donate Now" icon on the right side of the page.

Pictured left to right back row: Kay Harsha, Rose DeGuilio, Judy Moses, Annette DeVore, Church of the Servant Paston Robyn Goggs, Susy Wilson, Brenda Thomason. Front Row: Sherri Boyd, Sandy Eissenstat