For three quarters of a century the North Baldwin White Christmas program has been helping families, who otherwise wouldn’t, have a very merry Christmas.

“It started out as “Christmas Giving” through a little church, led by Mrs. Mary Buck,” Faye Robinson, White Christmas director, said. 

Robinson said the  project began primarily to furnish toys to families in need who had children between the ages of birth and 12, but expanded to include food for the elderly.

“In 1985, we included the elderly by giving them fruit baskets,” Robinson said.  “In 1989 we started giving out food gift certificates to the elderly and families receiving toys and clothing. We started with $5 gift cards, then $10 gift cards and now we provide the food.”

 The program also includes clothes and other items a family might need, Robinson said.

“In 1989, we became a 501-c-3 and had to have an official name, so we became North Baldwin White Christmas,” Robinson said. “The program was named after Amy and John White, who were running the program at the time.”

In addition to Thanksgiving meals for the elderly and Christmas meals and gifts for needy families, White Christmas collects clothes, blankets and other necessities throughout the year to help in the case of a single-family fire.

The program has become a community event, with groups and organizations throughout North Baldwin pitching in to raise money and collect clothes and toys.

“The Girl Scouts went door to door, schools do food drives, the Postal Service does a food drop every Mother’s Day and until last year the Rescue Squad in Atmore collected toys for us,” she said.

This year, the Bay Minette Fire Department is getting in on the action. Chief Phil Bryars and his crew were at Wal-Mart Nov. 15 and Dollar General on Nov. 22 collecting toys for the program.

“Chief Bryars contacted me and said he wanted to do something,” Robinson said. “I suggested he follow Atmore and do what they did.”

She said the biggest need is toys for ages 8 to 12.

“I can buy baby toys pretty reasonably, but items for the older kids are harder to get with what little money we have,” Robinson said.

Robinson said volunteers used to start collecting items in October, but because they now have a permanent location, they collect items year round.

“A permenant location is not just so we can have things ready for the holidays when they roll around,” Robinson said. “We are able to have items available throughout the year including clothing, blankets, sheets, bath products and food.”

Robinson said last year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the program served approximately 1,000 people.

“This year we are providing Thanksgiving food to 210 seniors,” Robinson said.

Joanne Faulk, who has been with the program 20 years, said she has already received as many applications as she did last year, and the deadline for applications is not until Dec. 8.

Families wanting to apply for the White Christmas program must visit the office with proof of income and Social Security cards for each member of the family.

“The Social Security number will not be recorded, but the volunteer taking the application must see it,” Robinson said.

Robinson said monetary donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 183, Bay Minette, Ala. 36507. Checks can be made to North Baldwin White Christmas and material donations such as toys, clothes, food or household goods can be taken to North Baldwin White Christmas at 315 S. Hoyle Ave. Donations can also be taken to  the RSVP office at 300 N. Hoyle Ave.

White Christmas is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the RSVP is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For more information call (251) 937-6764 or (251) 377-6806.