Secret changes

A Jay County organization is making sure Christmas isn’t one of the many events lost for local families because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Secret Families Christmas Charity of Jay County is raising money and recruiting volunteers to help make sure underprivileged families can celebrate the holidays this December.

“These are families that won’t be having a Christmas otherwise. … We knew the need would be greater this year,” said Conny Knight, founder of Jay County Secret Families.

Jay County Secret Families provided gifts, food and necessary household items for 106 families last year — a far cry from the 19 families it served in its first year in 2016 — and had more than 200 volunteers to shop for, wrap and deliver presents, all of which was done in a single day, Knight said.

She said that will happen again, all in one day — Dec. 12 — but “teams” will prepare gifts in shifts to allow for social distancing. Shopping will take place at Walmart in shifts and gifts will be wrapped by teams at Sapphires Reception Center (the former Portland Moose lodge).

Gifts are provided for families in addition to Bibles for the family and children and a Christmas tree if the family does not have one.

There will be one team per family, Knight said, and volunteers must register for the event ahead of time at secretfamiliesjc.org/team-registration-2. She encouraged entire families, including children, to volunteer to instill a sense of service.

Jay County Secret Families board member Amanda Foreman said it costs about $550 to sponsor a family. She added that it's not uncommon for a family in need to volunteer and donate the next year once they’re on their feet.

Jay School Corporation recommends the families to be served. That helps the organization keep a local focus and find the families most in need to serve, Knight said.

The organization has been fundraising and is still accepting donations ahead of its Christmas delivery next month.

It will be hosting two breakfasts — Saturday at American Legion Post #227 in Dunkirk and Nov. 14 at Portland Elks Lodge — to raise money for the event.

Tickets for the meals can purchased at the door or ahead of time on the organization’s website or from Foreman at Classic Cuts or Ja-Mar TV, Appliance and Bedding in Portland.

Jay County Secret Families will also host an online fundraising auction on its Facebook page from Nov. 15 to Nov. 17 for various packages items donated from Jay County businesses.

Items up for auction include various gift baskets and gift certificates for local businesses, Indianapolis Colts tickets and a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.