Some shoppers this holiday season are buying gifts for people they don’t even know — people who will have to spend Christmas in an institution. They’re local volunteers for Operation Santa Claus, a program of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and they buy presents for people from their area who live at Central Regional Hospital in Butner. These gifts include clothing, toiletries, candy and basic items.
These efforts benefit from your generosity, and you have an easy way to give: NAMI is one of six charities in the Times-News’ annual Love Enough to Share campaign. The campaign also aids The Salvation Army’s “Shoes With Love” program, the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Operation Santa Claus, the Foster Children’s Christmas Fund, Residential Treatment Services of Alamance’s Santa’s Helper program, Christmas Cheer and The Arc of Alamance County’s ArChristmas Fund.
