Community Corner
Fenton Area Women Help Children at Whaley Center
A group of friends selects a charity each year to help at Christmastime.
A group of approximately 50 Fenton area friends are helping make Christmas brighter for kids at Whaley Children’s Center in Flint this year. They fulfilled the wish lists of a 10-year-old girl, Destiny, and an 11-year-old boy, Brenden, and purchased more items to help others at the children’s center, said Betty Saule, of Fenton.
The friends purchased and wrapped CD players, shoes, boots, slippers, robes, whole outfits, coats, personal care items and gifts featuring the ever-popular singer Justin Bieber. Saule said they enjoyed helping the children.
“It really has been wonderful,” she said.
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The women met at the Chateau Du Lac clubhouse on Tuesday morning to assemble the gifts and give them to Katrina Khouri, director of development for Whaley Children’s Center, 1201 N. Grand Traverse in Flint. Khouri said the Our Children’s Keeper group includes friends, neighbors, and former colleagues who select a charity to support each year.
“This year, Whaley’s was fortunate enough to be their charity of choice,” she said.
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The gifts the group provided will help all 48 of the formerly abused and neglected children, ages 5-17, in the residential program at Whaley Children’s Center. The young people receive clinical therapy there.
“It will help make them happy and help them learn to take care of their personal hygiene,” Khouri said, of the group’s generosity.
Whaley Children’s Center can use assistance during the holidays and all year long, she added. There are opportunities to sponsor a child, or help bring cheer and joy to a youngster’s Christmas morning. In addition to winter clothing, Christmas gifts and personal care items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner.
Whaley also needs items to create a warm, inviting environment for the children who are staying there, Khouri said. These donations can include new rugs, pictures for the walls, organizational items and more.
For more information on Whaley Children’s Center, see www.whaleychildren.org or call (810) 234-3603.
