In the state of Georgia there are several thousand citizens living in Georgia’s seven regional mental health and retardation hospitals. Many of these patients have lived in these hospitals most of their lives and have little, if any, contact with or support from friends or family.
Fifty three years ago, in 1958, the Georgia Municipal Association and then Governor Ernest Vandiver created the Mayor’s Christmas Motorcade to help these hospital patients celebrate Christmas by providing each with a present. The staff at the regional hospitals tells us that without the Mayor’s Christmas Motorcade, many patients would go without any type of gift or recognition during the holidays.
“Fayetteville has started its gift collection campaign and we are asking for your help. The hospital clients are part of our community, drawn from a region, and we would like to encourage all of you to remember them this holiday season,” said Fayetteville mayor Ken Steele. “West Central Georgia Regional Hospital located in Columbus is the hospital that the City of Fayetteville is supporting.”
Items that are needed are gifts like board games, cards, t-shirts, baseball caps, watches, walkman radios, top 40 tapes and CDs, wallets, stationary, pens/pencils, tote bags, cookies/snacks, movies (G or PG only), hair acceesories, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs/brushes, cosmetics, shaving lotion, deodorant, after shave, cosmetic cases, shampoo/conditioner, body lotion and new clothing items like pajama/nightgowns/bathrobes, socks, underwear, bedroom shoes, tennis shoes, hats, sweat shirts and pants.
If your school, church, business, or civic group would like to partner with the City of Fayetteville in participating in an outstanding holiday community project, please contact Anne Barnard at 770- 719-4159 for further information on how you can get involved.
