Each year the city of Dalton decorates City Hall and the downtown area to get our community into the holiday spirit. This year the decorations will also help make the season brighter for some children in need. For the first time, the City Hall Christmas tree includes an opportunity for city employees or residents to sponsor Christmas gifts for a Dalton child.
The City Hall Christmas tree was put up in the lobby this week and among the many decorations are 15 tree ornaments. Each ornament represents a child from a list provided by Dalton Public Schools from a family that is in need. The ornaments have the child’s age and gender as well as their clothing sizes and a few notes on what types of toys or activities the child enjoys. The idea behind the project is for city employees to come to City Hall to select an ornament and then purchase gifts for each child, wrap them, and then return them to City Hall.
“The idea/thought is to plan on spending around $100 per child, however, this is not required,” Assistant City Administrator Todd Pangle said in a message to city department heads. Pangle noted that city departments such as the police and fire departments already have their own charitable projects for the holiday season but that this is an opportunity to do even more for the community.
While this was originally conceived as a charitable outreach for city employees, our residents and neighbors are welcome to participate as well. To sponsor a child, come to City Hall to collect an ornament from the tree. After purchasing gifts and wrapping them, return them to City Hall and City Clerk Bernadette Chattam and her staff will ensure they are delivered to the school system and each child. Note: Each ornament is numbered and the number should be written on each gift so that school system staff will know which child to deliver the gifts to. Wrapped presents should be returned to City Hall by Dec. 15 to allow time for delivery.
City Hall is at 300 W. Waugh St. and the tree and city clerk’s office are both in the lobby.