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Holiday Giving in Berkeley County
In response to the need of children and their families in
Berkeley County the Ninth Circuit Solicitor's office adopted 9 children for this
holiday season. Paralegal Tara Wilson helped organize and coordinate this
season’s effort.
“A friend of mine teaches at West View Primary and told me
that she had 11 children in her class that were listed on the school's angel
tree,” Wilson said. “I asked the office if this was something that we could do
and everyone contributed.”
The Berkeley County Offices initially began with only two
children, but after Debbie Marsh, a legal assistant, was contacted by a
teacher from Berkeley Elementary School, they just couldn’t say ‘No.’
“This sort of fueled things for us because we were so
excited, but worried about extra money,” Wilson said.
However, the Christmas spirit had filled more than just
Wilson, Marsh and their colleagues. It was then that a local attorney came by
the Berkeley County offices and saw the effort they had put together for the
children. Within hours his office called and asked Wilson to come by and pick up
a check.
“Some say that it is better to
give than receive,” Wilson said. “Debbie and I are convinced that this is true
because we have received far more than we could have ever imagined by giving.”
But more money was still
needed. Luckily, Monck’s Corner Pentecostal Holiness Church came to their aid.
With a new surplus of money Wilson went ahead and adopted 5 more children. This
in turn encouraged the Public Defender’s office in Berkeley County to adopt 7
other children.
“It was very fun to shop for
the kids, wrap presents and then deliver them to the schools,” Wilson said. “The
anticipation of the happiness and excitement from the kids was the driving force
for us.”
All together 16 children were helped by contributions
raised at the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Offices in Berkeley County and next year
Wilson hopes to continue the effort as a tradition.
“I think that we would definitely do this again next year,”
Wilson said. “It was great to work with the people of the community and our
friends to help these children.”
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