Their names are not Santa, their mode of transportation is not a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer, but Fayette County Public School System warehouse workers Randy Keyser and Chase Callahan, along with their delivery trucks, have made wishes come true for hundreds of students in schools throughout the county.
Two weeks before the semester break, Keyser and Callahan transported truckloads of gifts that are being distributed to more than 500 Fayette County Public School students who were part of this year’s CARE (Children at Risk in Education) Angel Project.
Each year, the CARE Angel Project assists students in the school system whose families are struggling financially. The students are recommended by their school counselor, and are carefully vetted by the CARE Angel Program to ensure they meet the qualifications for inclusion. The wishes of the students are written on Angel Wish cards, along with the child’s age, gender and school.
Community members, businesses, organizations, and employees of the school system are invited to adopt one of the angels to help fulfill their needs, many of which are nontraditional. Some of the nontraditional requests that were filled this year include a trumpet for a 15 year-old student to continue music, a commuter bike for a high school student to get from school to work, basketball fee scholarships, and many blankets, towels, beds, dishes, and hygiene supplies.
Approximately 24 churches, businesses and organizations helped to provide these gifts along with some more traditional ones such toys, games and bicycles.
“The support for the Angel Project is absolutely amazing. Team work makes the dream work,” says Karen Spangler, coordinator of the program. “So many people were involved in providing resources to make the wishes of these angels come true. I am thankful to each and every one of them who made it all possible.” — Article provided by the Fayette County School System.