The Adopt A Teen program needs support during the holidays

The Christmas season is such a happy time of year. Can you imagine being a teenager waking up on Christmas morning with no presents under the tree? Although it may be hard to believe, there are teenagers in our community who will experience such sadness and confusion during the holiday season.

While it’s hard for any child to understand and deal with being overlooked during the holidays, it’s especially difficult for teenagers who are already dealing with their own volatile emotions, life decisions, and peer pressure. You can help make the holiday season brighter for teenagers who might otherwise have little or nothing to smile about this time of year.

As a Rusty Mac Adopt a Teen sponsor, you have the right to help make the holiday wishes of one or more teens served by the Carl Perkins Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center. The Rusty Mac Adopt a Teen program was started in 1997 based on Rusty Mac’s idea that teenagers are the forgotten “kids” at Christmas.

This program has now been expanded to help teenagers throughout the year, mainly with school supplies, clothing and other school activities. This is something that Konrad and I have talked about many times, and we named this part of our mission after him “Konrad’s Good Deeds”. Be certain all Teenagers in need of sponsorship at Christmas will be taken care of first and then any funds in excess will go towards this much needed addition to the programme.

This year we have 355 teenagers on the Christmas adoption list. The staff knows what these teenagers want, but they need funds to do it. For $100, you can ensure that one teen feels loved and supported this holiday season.

Donations can be sent to the Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center, PO Box 447, Jackson TN 38302, by credit card at 731-668-4000 or by carlperkinscenter.org.

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