RISON - If there is one thing at that pulls at Malinda McKnight's heart strings, it's seeing kids in need from within her own community that have to go without, especially around the holidays.
McKnight has seen firsthand the plight that some children go through during her years as administrator for the Cleveland County Department of Human Services (DHS) office at Rison. She said it was especially heartbreaking around Christmas when she knew about foster children and others who may go without a Christmas just because of the situation they were in.
And McKnight said she wasn't the only one feeling that way. Every Christmas, she said a lot of the workers at the DHS office would pool their own money together to make sure those children received at least a little something for Christmas.
While McKnight retired from her job as the administrator for the Cleveland County DHS office five years ago, that willingness to help children is being carried on through the Cleveland County Cares Fund.
McKnight and the rest of the volunteers with the Cleveland County Care Fund are getting ready to start their annual Christmas fundraising drive to help raise money to buy clothes, shoes and Christmas presents for the most needy families in the county.
Unlike other aid programs where the recipients apply for the assistance, McKnight said the Care Fund is different in that the assistance only goes to those children and families referred to the fund by local schools, churches or state agencies like DHS. She said teachers, coaches, counselors, pastors and DHS workers usually have a better idea about who truly needs help.
McKnight explains that once a referral is made to the Care Fund, they will begin to find out how many people are in the family and what their needs are. While the initial referral may have been for just one child, McKnight said they check to see if their may be other children in the household. If so, she said it is their intention is to help those children as well.
Once they get an accurate count of who all is in the household, McKnight said they will then get the clothing sizes for each child in the home as well as a few items those children may want for Christmas.
She said the families are often very thankful for the help, pointing out that many of them never ask for help in the first place.
McKnight recalled the appreciation of one grandmother who was trying to take care of three grandchildren. "She said 'No one has ever offered to help me do anything'," McKnight said. "They're the type people that don't come and ask." (continued from page 1) McKnight said there is a team of volunteers working behind the scenes to make sure everything happens. She said there are people who begin shopping for each individual child about a week before Christmas. Those shoppers, she said, are often about the same age as the recipients to make sure they are selecting clothes or other items that would appeal to people their own age.
McKnight estimated about 300 children have been helped through the Cleveland County Care Fund since her retirement from the DHS five yeas ago.
Fundraising
The Cleveland County Care Fund raises money two ways during the holidays: cash donations and fundraising events.
McKnight said the Cleveland County Care Fund is actually a community service program affiliated with the Pioneer Village at Rison, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. She said all donations are tax-deductible and checks should be made to Pioneer Village with Care Fund written in the memo line. Dona-tions can be mailed in care of Malinda McKnight, 10050 Hwy. 35 North, Rison, AR 71665; or donations can be dropped off the Cleveland County Herald office, 215 Main Street in downtown Rison.
The Cleveland County Care Fund has two fundraising events planned: a pulled pork barbeque sandwich lunch this Sunday, Nov. 19, and Christmas Bingo scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2, during Christmas in the Village.
McKnight said the pulled pork barbeque sandwich lunch will begin at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, in the fellowship hall at Rison Baptist Church. In addition to the lunch, McKnight said they will be having a live and silent auction for baked goods.
The annual Christmas Bingo will be held at noon Saturday, Dec. 2, during Christmas in the Village at the Pioneer Village in Rison. McKnight said they will have some of the best prizes that they have had in the history of the event, ranging from homemade baked goods and handmade crafts to gift certificates and gift cards. Christmas Bingo is open to all ages.