Township children in need received gifts, toys and clothing through the E.J. Blott Holiday Gift Program held each year in the community.
The program to help local children was started several years ago by township resident Gretchen Reed.
On Dec. 16, volunteers from the community spent an entire morning sorting and wrapping the gifts that would end up going to more than 61 local families, including 93 children at E.J. Blott Elementary School from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade.
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Liberty police Sgt. Dan Kovach and Patrolman Robert Altier sort through some of the items donated by Dollar General’s manager Don Monroe toward the E.J. Blott holiday project. Volunteers spent the morning of Dec. 13 sorting and wrapping the gifts at Churchill United Methodist Church.
"Gifts come from all over the township," said volunteer Fran Pettit.
Shortly after Thanksgiving, giving trees are sent out to area businesses with tags that residents can take to purchase needed items for area children. In addition to the giving trees, letters are mailed to local businesses requesting donations of goods or gift cards or by sponsoring a family.
Churchill United Methodist Church donates an outfit for each child in the program, Pettit said.
"This community is very giving and once again they did it," she said.
The local Dollar General store and manager Don Monroe donates several items, including toys and clothing to the program. The Liberty Police Department picks up the donations and delivers them to the church in time for wrapping.
Donations in excess of what is needed to fill the lists from E.J. Blott go to the Emanuel Center, which also provides for local families.
Volunteers are made up of members of the community, members of the Churchill United Methodist Church, the Liberty Historical Society and township officials.