The Young Professionals of Fayette County (YP Fayette) held their annual Blue Jeans, Blue Christmas party at Carrabba’s in Peachtree City last Friday. In addition to connecting and networking with friends and colleagues, the group collected blue jeans and hygiene items for needy children that the Fayette Holiday Helpers would distribute.
“We got a request just this last week about a little seven-year-old motherless girl. She was being teased terribly by the other children about her clothes, and we were able to provide her with some new things to wear,” said Helen Rickman of Citadel Self Storage and Chairperson of Fayette Holiday Helpers.
At last Friday’s event, YP Fayette collected 16 pairs of jeans, 39 hygiene sets, 29 pairs of underwear, 21 pairs of socks, eight shirts and two pairs of shoes. The hygiene items included shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, hairspray, lipstick and body wash.
“As Fayette’s Young Professionals, we’re still young enough to remember the peer pressure regarding clothes and hygiene. That’s why we collect jeans and toiletries for Fayette Holiday Helpers. Shampoo is an insignificant thing, until you have no money to buy it and you’re in high school,” said Ellie White-Stevens, YP Fayette’s President and the Chair of Blue Jeans, Blue Christmas.
This is actually a two-event push for YP Fayette. They had 20 people at their Blue Jeans, Blue Christmas Speaker N a Latte, sponsored by Flint Huff at oXYGen Financial, in November, and there were 17 people at Friday’s party. Nearly everyone participated in bringing jeans, hygiene items or making a donation.
Fayette Holiday Helpers is a non-profit 501(C) 3 organization in Fayetteville, Ga. that brings together volunteer citizens and local companies that care about Fayette County Public Schools’ children and families. This group was formed in 2004 to work with the Children at Risk in Education (C.A.R.E) program to supplement Fayette families in need with Christmas gifts that will help provide them with an improved lifestyle. For more information on Fayette Holiday Helpers, visit fayetteholidayhelpers.org.
Young Professionals of Fayette County (YP Fayette) is a non-profit, all volunteer program dedicated to connecting young professionals who live, work or have an interest in Fayette County. They are comprised of motivated, energetic young professionals certain to become the community’s future leaders. The group has networking opportunities, promotes community involvement and provides leadership development for men and women between the ages of 21 and 39. YP Fayette offers its members a way to link their personal passions with professional ambitions. Find them on Facebook or visit fayettechamber.org/ypfayette for more information.
