Children Services and BelFlex partner to spread holiday cheer –
By Patricia Beech –
On Dec. 27, young people spending the holiday season at Wilson Children’s Home were given a special Christmas shopping spree by the BelFlex Staffing Network, a company which provides temporary and full-time employment services at the facility.
Partnering with Adams County Children Services for their special holiday program, the company gave each child $300 to spend on gifts for themselves and others. BelFlex employees and caregivers from Wilson’s Children’s Home accompanied the children as they shopped.
The day started with a limousine bus picking up 15 children and their caregivers and driving them to Eastgate Mall where they met the BelFlex team for lunch. Afterwards, each BelFlex employee took two children store-to-store as they looked for presents. Clothing and electronics were the most sought after items for the children who ranged in age from 12-17 years old.
“Adams County Children Services and Wilson Children’s Home (WCH) are grateful that Belflex Staffing Network has partnered with us to bring holiday joy to the children,” said Melissa Taylor, WCH Superintendent. “The children had an amazing day with Belflex employees dining and shopping in Cincinnati.”
The shopping trip was a new approach for the company which, in the past would bring toys, clothing and gift cards to the home for the children. “We would have a nice lunch and decorate cookies together,” said Taylor, “However, it came to our attention that many of our children do not have the opportunity to shop at the mall regularly and pick out gifts themselves—especially with such a generous budget. This year, we were thrilled to collaborate with BelFlex to find a new way to bring holiday joy to the children and it was great to see their excitement on shopping day.”
Robert Baer, Vice President at BelFlex says the company is committed to giving back and has partnered with multiple organizations in the communities in which it serves. The company has averaged over 3,000 volunteer hours annually and donated time and money to more than 125 organizations across 10 states.
“We are honored to partner with Adams County Children Services and Wilson Children’s Home again, both of which do so much for children who have been through extremely difficult circumstances,” said Baer. “We are all so grateful to be a part of the children’s lives, and we thoroughly enjoyed accompanying them as they did what kids all over the country are doing this holiday season—shopping!”