Pictured are, from left, Sarah Grey and Colin Barrett of APEF; Kari Wilmeth, TVEC; and John Trent, APEF.
The Athens Public Education Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports educational opportunities for students in the Athens Independent School District. The goal is to involve the community in building a strong public school system that delivers quality education to the leaders and workers of tomorrow.
The TVEC Charitable Foundation is funded by donations from Operation Round Up. Operation Round Up is a voluntary program that allows TVEC members to round up their monthly electric bills to the next whole dollar amount. The portion that is rounded up goes to the TVEC Charitable Foundation and may be used to award grant requests to local charitable organizations.
TVCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter recently collected 3,222 diapers for a Diaper Drive. The diapers will be distributed to six families that applied to benefit from the drive. Phi Theta Kappa officers are (from left) Jessica Schaeffer, Azsia Hearn, Paula Contois, and Allyson Braggs (in front).
Jan is the wife of George Aaron, owner of Elite Tax Service and Pea Pickers Produce in Athens. Jan fell ill in July of this year suffering a stroke. She has an auto-immune disease called TTP. This disease is believed to be the cause of her stroke. Since July, Jan and George have spent countless days and hours in the hospital or traveling for treatments in Shreveport, La. During this time Jan has suffered more strokes and most recently a more severe one the day before Thanksgiving. Her condition as of now is stable, but not good and she will require daily care once she is home.
We are asking for monetary donations that can made to help with expenses, such as room and board, traveling, and medical for Jan and family.
If you wish to make a donation please go to Athens Bank, located at 609 South Palestine Athens, TX 75751
If you prefer to mail your donation please make check payable to: Jan or George Aaron and in the memo section please put “Benefit for Jan Aaron.” These can be mailed to Athens Bank, P.O. Box 405 Brownsboro, TX. 75756
Additionally, there will be a benefit for Jan and family at Groom & Sons/Ace Hardware located at 219 South Palestine, Athens, TX 75751 on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Hot dogs and drinks will be served. There will also be a bake sale. Donations of any amount will be accepted.
Pictured unveiling the Child Welfare Board Angel Tree are, from left, Henderson County Judge Richard Sanders, Pct. 1 Commissioner Scotty Thomas, Welfare Board member the Rev. Mary Henderson, Welfare Board member Kim Hodges, and Welfare Board Chairman Justin Weiner.
Child Welfare Board press release
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But for some children from Henderson County it can be the most difficult time of the year. Children that have been placed in foster care due to allegations of abuse and neglect often struggle for a sense of normalcy around Christmas time.
You can help! The Henderson County Child Welfare Board in association with Nexus Fostering Essex sponsors an Angel Tree which will be on display at First State Bank here in Athens. This particular tree is unique and distinguishable from others within the community because it only includes children who are involved with Child Protective Services from Henderson County. The tree is currently up in the lobby of the downtown branch of First State Bank. Individuals or groups can sponsor an angel and help try to make Christmas a little more normal for these children. The Board will even take donations and shop for you if you don’t have time during the busy holiday season. This is a wonderful way to give back to children in need and is an excellent activity for the whole family. What could be a better way to get into the Christmas spirit? Without help from the community, these kids would get little or no Christmas, and so this is our attempt to provide at least some level of normalcy to their lives.
Justin Weiner, a Henderson County Assistant District Attorney who serves as Chairman of the Henderson County Child Welfare Board, is urging the community to get involved with the Angel Tree.
“This is a wonderful and easy way for our community to make a huge impact in the lives Henderson County foster children,” he said. “Each and every one of these children deserves to be able to celebrate the holidays. Please help us in our efforts to ensure that they will.”
Come by the lobby at First State Bank located on the square across from the Court House during normal lobby hours: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Board asks that all purchased presents be returned by Dec. 13. This allows for the Board to make sure that presents get to the children on time.
The Henderson County Child Welfare Board’s mission is to support a network of volunteers and Child Protective Services workers from child hunger organizations who are concerned with the welfare of children, especially those suffering from abuse and neglect. Its purpose is to function as a liaison between the community and the Texas Department of Family and Child Protective Services.
Please help spread the word to anyone in the community who may be interested in helping to make Christmas for these children a little brighter and a little more normal.
This tree was set up at Benson’s in Athens today by Adult Protective Services (APS) in order to collect items for older adults that may not have a Christmas without our help. Please consider running by Benson’s and helping these folk’s out.
This tree was set up at Benson’s in Athens today by Adult Protective Services (APS) in order to collect items for older adults that may not have a Christmas without our help. Please consider running by Benson’s and helping these folk’s out.