Kittitas County Kids Benefit From CWU Gift Program

December 10, 2003

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-- Nearly 240 Kittitas County kids will receive gifts this year through the annual Central Washington University holiday giving program.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for the university community to share with children from throughout our county," CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre says.

The gifts, purchased and wrapped by CWU employees, are collected in the president's office and are then distributed to Head Start and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

Carejune Faulkner, from Head Start, says parents will be able to pick up their donated gifts next Monday (Dec. 15). This is the second year the program will include presents for infants to 3 year olds. In all, Head Start will receive gifts from CWU for 143 children enrolled in programs in Ellensburg and Roslyn.

"This is a great way for families, who may not otherwise have the money to get a nice gift, to supplement their holiday," Faulkner says.

In addition, about 40 area families will receive gifts from CWU delivered to them through DSHS Children and Family Services.

"It's a pleasure for the staff to deliver these gifts and for the kids to get them," Nate Sitton, Children and Family Services supervisor, says. "Most of the families we serve come from low-income backgrounds, and the children wouldn't necessarily get gifts if it wasn't for this program."