CareShare Christmas 2020 Expected to Hit a New High
NEWS RELEASE
Oklahoma City, OK – October 21, 2020 – Despite the global pandemic and all the uncertainty it brings, a child’s Christmas wishes remain. This is where the Putnam City Schools Foundation’s CareShare program comes in. Orchestrated by a group of committed volunteers, CareShare is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to being Santa Claus for children within Putnam City Schools. Whether they want a bicycle, art supplies, or books, our dedicated adopters work to fill those desires and needs. Each child typically gets some new clothes as well, so they can start back to school with confidence.
Brought to life by former Putnam City counselor Penny Poe in 1982, and now spearheaded by Putnam City West alumni Erin Brewer, CareShare facilitates the matching of families in need with teachers, religious groups, businesses, and various others to ensure Putnam City school children have gifts to unwrap for Christmas.
It was Poe’s objective to help children “hold onto their hopes” during the holiday season and her efforts have continued to grow. In the 38 years since it began, CareShare has provided more than 25,000 Putnam City children with gifts to open on Christmas day.
“Leading CareShare is the best volunteer gig ever!” Brewer exclaimed. “I love Christmas and everything that goes with it, so helping ensure that every child has a joyful Christmas morning is incredibly rewarding for me. Although I don't get to meet the children we serve, I have so much fun working with the amazing school counselors who care so deeply for the students and the generous adopters who remind me that the world is full of good people.”
Brewer estimates she and the adopters spend over 2,500 hours each season ensuring that children have a great Christmas. She expects this year to be even more challenging for families due to the pandemic.
“Everything is different in 2020, CareShare included! Our counselors are finding new approaches to identify children in need since learning is happening remotely right now. Adopters will likely shop differently, too. Some adopters feel more comfortable contributing financially and allowing someone else to shop. The biggest difference will likely be that the need is greater than it's ever been. We anticipate possibly serving 1,500 kids and will need all the community support we can get,” Brewer stated.
CareShare needs people to sign up to be a part of this heartwarming effort. Adopters can choose the number of children they would like, and are then given a list of the child’s needs, wants and clothing sizes. The amount spent per child is at least $75 and only new items are accepted. To adopt or to donate funds to CareShare, visit the Putnam City Schools Foundation website at https://pcf4kids.org/programs/careshare/christmas.
About the Foundation
The Putnam City Schools Foundation’s mission is to enhance and enrich the educational opportunities of children in Putnam City Schools. We serve the students, teachers, and staff of Oklahoma’s fifth-largest school district, through support, recognition, and advocacy, and have for over 30 years. More than 19,500 children and their families benefit from the work we do every day. The support we provide doesn’t just impact our schools. It enables our students to dream big and continue building the strong community we share. To learn more about the Putnam City Schools Foundation call (405) 495-5200, ext. 1205, or visit www.pcf4kids.org.
###
October 21, 2020