RISON - Local youth receiving Christmas presents through Cleveland County Cares will be getting an extra gift bag this year thanks to a local couple who decided to donate them to the fund after they were unable to give them away to students at Rison Elementary last week.Daryl Joyce said he and his wife, Jennifer Blackburn, had prepared more than 300 gift bags that they intended to give away to all the students at Rison Elementary last week. The gift bags were individualized for boys and girls. However, Rison Elementary Principal Angie Hudson said there was some miscommunication about the arrangements and the give-away was canceled. While organizations can give certain items away to students through the school, Superintendent Davy King said it must be distributed through school staff since state law requires anyone who comes in contact with students at school to undergo a state background check. Melinda McKnight with Cleveland County Cares said she appreciated the gift bags and would include them in the Christmas gifts that will be distributed to local families in need later this week.Joyce said he and his family have been living in the county outside of Rison for about a year, and wanted to do something for the community by giving away the gift bags. Joyce said they may try to do it again next year but in a public setting outside of school....
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