GREENFIELD — Service to mankind, it’s the building block of Sertoma. The members of the Greenfield Sertoma Club live by the statement, trying to meet the needs of the community through volunteer service.
The service over the past couple of days included club members taking part in one of their favorite activities of the year, supporting the longstanding Santa’s Helpers program. The club works all year to raise specific funds for families so they can go Christmas shopping, which they did this past weekend during the Santa’s Helpers event.
Longtime club members, secretary Dave Berard and treasurer Stephen Burt, explained the Santa’s Helpers initiative was originally formed in Hancock County back in 1948 to provide clothing for those in need. Since then, the program was assisted by various organizations with members of Sertoma leading the effort since 2001.
“We had some of our members start to organize specifically for that and then the club as a whole decided we’d roll that into our overall fundraising efforts, but we do keep things separate so we can keep track of how much we’ve raised for Santa’s Helpers,” Berard said.
Burt noted the funds raised each year varies, but this year they were able to raise nearly $19,000, which allowed them to help 57 different county families, which included helping 188 children.
“It’s all through the generosity of the people in Hancock County,” Burt said. “They know 100% of the money they generate to Santa’s Helpers goes for kids’ clothing.”
The Greenfield Sertoma Club gets the names of the families needing assistance from the Hancock County Christmas Connection.
“Through the Christmas Connection, which used to be the United Way, but when that went away, the Christmas Connection became the place,” Burt said.
After a family signs up, the parents or guardians of the children needing assistance shop at Walmart at times arranged by the Sertoma. This year, contributions from individuals, organizations and businesses allowed for $100 to be spent on clothes for each of 188 children.
Santa’s Helpers has a deep tradition in the county, both Burn and Berard noted, and they are proud to keep it going. Back in 1948, representatives of the service clubs and the patriotic civic organizations from around the county, met in the home of Dr. Charles E. Sharp for the purpose of doing something for the needy families of the community.
“Santa’s Helpers was born at that meeting and has grown to being one of the communities greatest assets,” Burn said.
Back then, it was decided that they would put on a drive each year for used clothing, food and money to buy more food to help the needy families at Christmas time.
The project grew by leaps and bounds until in 1950 when a better organization was formed and in the summer of 1951 when Santa’s Helpers was incorporated as a Non-Profit Charitable Organization.
“Back in those days, old clothing was collected, repaired and distributed, food was bought and collected and was then distributed to those in need,” Burt said.
In the early days of the program, it was decided the use of used clothing would be discontinued and a fund would be solicited to buy new clothing for school children, and baskets would be distributed to those in need.
These days, the families sign up then come in and shop with Sertoma Santa’s Helpers at the register to make sure they have the monies needed to get the clothing for the children. They then recommend for families in need of shoes to visit Changing Footprints, 1001 W. Main St., Greenfield, where families can get new and gently used shoes.
