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The second year of the “December to Remember” Christmas assistance event – in which various Clark County Public Schools families receive gift donations and more to benefit them during the holiday season – came to Winchester on Saturday, December 14th. 

This time around, even more individuals were able to be served. 

“Our community always steps up when we need them,” said Casey Davis, Family Resource Coordinator at Baker Intermediate School. “We went from [serving] about 250 to 500 kids.” 

With hundreds of volunteers – including members of George Rogers Clark High School’s Beta Club, football team, girls soccer team, and more – the event was set up at Central Baptist Church on W. Lexington Avenue on both Thursday and Friday with pews filled from front to back with gift baskets. 

As clients who had signed up drove to the back steps of the church on Saturday morning, volunteers helped load up their vehicles with such baskets, which included an assortment of different items. 

Yet that was far from all. 

Numerous sponsors played a part in organizing the event, and – in the middle of the parking lot – members of Calvary Christian Church were. 

They delivered baskets with several cleaning items they’d bought. 

Among them were toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, glass cleaner, bleach, mop, soap, dish liquid, detergent, scrub brushes, and a laundry basket. 

Zac Cowan, Youth Pastor at Calvary Christian Church, spoke of the benefits of participation. 

“What an awesome opportunity it is not just for us to be able to help out, but for us to be able to join in with other community people,” he said. “That’s something that I think we love personally as a church…we see a need [and] we want to help our neighbor.” 

Certainly not least, a bit further down the parking lot, members of the Winchester Police Department were present. 

A bevy of toys were given out for students of Clark County Public Schools to enjoy, including basketballs and footballs, dolls, care bears, monster trucks, characters from various Disney films, building blocks, board games, and more. 

Some lucky students were even awarded a new bike. 

Jansen Thomas, a patrolman with Winchester PD, spoke of the department’s involvement in the operation. 

“We have over 500 toys that were donated to us from people throughout the community during a toy drive,” he said. “It’s very rewarding…I’m glad everybody came out!” 

Along with Operation Happiness, which was taking place the same morning, Davis spoke of the day’s positive energy. 

“We’re calling it a day of giving in Winchester,” she said. “It’s [a] great day to be a Clark Countian.”