Tribune Staff Reports
Applications for the 2018 Sertoma Christmas Miracle are now available.
They may be found in Seymour at the Jackson County Health Department, WIC office, Seymour City Hall, Jackson County Department of Child Service, Human Services Inc. and Jackson County Public Library. They are available at the libraries in Crothersville and Medora, too.
They also may be picked up at all partner agencies of Jackson County United Way, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department in Brownstown during regular business hours and Bundy Brothers in Medora.
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All applications must be received by Dec. 18.
Beginning Dec. 1, the Christmas Miracle headquarters will be in Suite 209 at Shops at Seymour, 357 Tanger Blvd. The headquarters will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Applications for toys and donors’ monetary donations may be sent to Sertoma at P.O. Box 841, Seymour, IN 47274. The headquarters’ phone number is 812-498-2275 but will not be in operation until Dec. 1.
Applications and donations also may be dropped off at the headquarters starting Dec. 1. All donations are used for the children of Jackson County.
“We are not associated with any national or international toy drive,” said Ryan Begley, Christmas Miracle co-chairman and president of the Sertoma Club of Jackson County. “Anyone who donates gifts or money to Sertoma Christmas Miracle can rest assured knowing that their contribution is used only for the children of Jackson County.”
Sertoma is participating in the Charity Tracker network to avoid any duplication of services. All applications must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. Applications are accepted for children 12 and younger.
All children must live in Jackson County and must be home for the delivery of the gifts throughout the day on Christmas Eve.
What was once a small club-oriented service program has grown to become a communitywide project, co-chairman John Fox said.
“This program only exists because of the extraordinary charity of the people of this county,” he said. “We do not have enough members in Sertoma to pull off this large of a project without volunteers and donors. We’re truly blessed with the support of our community.”
Sertoma is a nonprofit service organization that means Service To Mankind.