Operation Holiday Heroes helps victim of abuse, her children
About one month ago April's world came crashing down.
She and her three children were victims of abuse. They were forced to relocate, and her monthly income was drastically reduced. Not knowing where the next meal was coming from was difficult enough, but not knowing where her children's Christmas presents would come from was unbearable.
Operation Holiday Heroes was able to help.
Operation Holiday Heroes will be providing toys and food for a long list of families just like April's this Christmas, but it will need the community's help through donations of cash or toys to be successful, as there are more than 1,300 local children in need.
The main goal of the program is to make sure every child has presents under the tree to open on Christmas morning.
The drive is a collaborative effort among United Way of the Lowcountry, Toys for Tots, Bluffton Self Help, Deep Well, Love House Ministries, The Salvation Army, The Beaufort Gazette and The Island Packet.
To make monetary contributions for the purchase of toys and food vouchers, send a check made payable to Operation Holiday Heroes to United Way of the Lowcountry, P.O. Box 202, Beaufort, SC 29901.
The names of those who contribute money are printed in the Gazette, so if you would like to remain anonymous, note that.
You may also bring your donation to the United Way office at 2266 Boundary St. in Beaufort, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New, unwrapped toys can be donated to Toys for Tots and brought to any of the following locations:
Beaufort
Anytime Fitness Beaufort, 274 Robert Smalls Parkway, Suite 250
Atlantic Marine Corps Communities, 640 Laurel Bay RD
Beaufort County Arts Council, 2127 Boundary St., Beaufort Town Center, Suite 18A
Beaufort County Association of Realtors, 22 Kemmerlin Lane
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, 1211 Boundary St.
Cricket Wireless, 7 Robert Smalls Parkway, Suite 5
Cross Creek Apartment Homes, 325 Ambrose Run
East Coast Marine Repair, 401 Parris Island Gateway
Gilligans of Beaufort, 2601 Boundary St.
Lowcountry Insurance Services LLC, 80 Lady's Island Drive
Merry Maids, 829 Parris Island Gateway
Navy Federal Credit Union, 21 Willis Road
Regions Bank, 146 Sea Island Parkway
Stokes Brown Toyota, 3557 Trask Parkway
Summit Place of Beaufort, 1119 Pickpocket Plantation Drive
Yes, It Hurts! Tattoos, 14 Savannah Highway, Suite 17B
Port Royal/Parris Island
AMVETS Post 70, 1831 Ribaut Road
CPM Federal Credit Union, 1345 Ribaut Road
Parris Island Fire/Rescue, 455 Wake Blvd., Parris Island
Navy Federal Credit Union - Parris Island, Building 202, Boulevard DeFrance
Old Fort Baptist Church, 1554 Ribaut Road
Bluffton/Okatie
A Beautiful U Salon, 30 Plantation Park Drive, Suite 204
Banana Republic Factory Store, 1414 Fording Island Road, Suite G100
Bluffton Self Help, 39 Sheridan Park Circle, Suite 10
Bluffton Township Fire District, 357 Fording Island Road
Epperson Service Experts, 1306 Fording Island, Suite 106
Heyward House Historic Center, 70 Boundary St.
Hilton Head Honda, 161 Fording Island Road
Katie O'Donald's, 1008 Fording Island Road
Kay Jewelers Outlet, 1252 Fording Island Road, Suite 320
Mercedes Benz of Hilton Head, 155 Fording Island Road
Moonlit Lullaby, 1019 Fording Island Road, Suite 103G
Radio Sol, 27 Doctor Mellinchamp Drive, Suite 103
D.R. Horton Homes, 209 Argo Circle
Hilton Head Island
Barnes & Noble, 20 Hatton Place
Captain Woody's Bar & Grill, 6 Target Road
Civitan/Shear Miracle Hair Salon, 6 Bow Circle, Suite A-4
EXIT Hilton Head Realty, 22 New Orleans Road
FACES DaySpa, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, D2, Village at Wexford
Powerhouse Gym, 1530 Fording Island Road
Sonesta Resort, 130 Shipyard Drive
The Art of Massage & Yoga, 14 New Orleans Road
Ridgeland
Auston Chase Apartments, 59 Summerlake Circle
Hardeeville
Boat Bright Custom Canvas, 200 Mead Road
All In One Garage, 200 Mead Road, Suite A
If you are in need of assistance, call the United Way of the Lowcountry Office at 843-982-3040.
This week's contributions:
Michael and Gillian Mackewich: $100
In memory of Lester L. Church: $250
In memory of Mickey Bonefede: $150
Total to date: $500
This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 7:42 PM with the headline "Operation Holiday Heroes helps victim of abuse, her children."