NEWS
Dads Making a Difference Program Makes a Difference this Holiday Season
CHEYENNE - The Department of Workforce Services Dads Making a Difference Program is proud to partner with the Laramie County Community Partnership to run this year's Holiday Gift Collaborative -- a last-minute referral program for families in need. Agencies with the Laramie County Community Partnership (consisting of over 65 local nonprofit organizations) are collaborating to help provide needy families with household items, children's clothing and gifts for Christmas. The Laramie County Community Partnership is accepting donations at laramiecountypartnership.org.
Referrals for families in need are simple to make. Community members, schools, churches, nonprofit agencies, neighbors, relatives, shelters, clinics, agencies, and self-referrals are all acceptable forms of referrals. Anyone can access the link from the Laramie County Community Partnership website, click on the Holiday Gift Collaborative Link, and (1) refer a family in need and/or (2) make a donation to help meet these Christmas needs. If unable to access via the computer, referrals can also be made by calling 307-777-3717. Referrals must be made by December 23, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.
Tammy Howard, Case Manager for the Dads Making a Difference Program for the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, emphasized the need for additional help this Holiday. "We will likely raise about $700 with our fundraiser, but last year we had 58 families referred and the $700 we raised didn't go as far as we had hoped," Howard said. "With the condition of the economy and the needs expected to be greater this year, we need all the help we can get."
The Dads Making a Difference participants have also volunteered to operate a separate fundraiser, selling $10 discount cards that provide discounts to local businesses (similar to the ones that schools sometimes sell) in order to help raise additional funds. They will be identifying family needs, operating within the fundraising budget, shopping for gifts, wrapping presents and making deliveries up until December 23, 2009.
Joan Evans, Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, appreciates the ability of the Dads participants to pay forward kind hearts during the Holidays. "I am so thrilled to see the partnership between the Dads Making a Difference Program and the Laramie County Community Partnership grow by coming together to help those less fortunate during the Holiday season," Evans said.
For more information on the Department of Workforce Services or the Dads Making a Difference Program, please visit the agency website at wyomingworkforce.org, call 307-777-8650 or follow us on Facebook.
Listen to the audio from Tammy Howard, Case Manager, Dads Making a Difference Program, Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.
Listen to the audio from Joan Evans, Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.
