Connie Freeman, of Proctorville is so impressed with the Young Professionals Secret Santa program that she’s agreed to volunteer in any way that she’s needed.

“Last year I just gave money,” Freeman said. “This year I am retired and I offered to help them out to do wrapping or shopping or whatever they needed me to do.”

In its second year the Secret Santa program is a way to get much needed warm winter clothing and toys to youngsters birth to 12 years old who live in Lawrence County. Last year the program helped out more than 400 children. And this Christmas with the economic climate so tough requests for help have almost doubled.

That means the Young Professionals, part of the Greater Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, are needing all the help they can get in order to meet this extreme need. The last thing they want to have to do is turn some needy child down because there aren’t enough resources this Christmas.

And that help can come in the way of donations or by sponsoring one or more children this season.

“This (program) is hitting a need,” Freeman said. “There are a lot of kids out there with not enough clothes and not enough toys. The young people did such a good job last year. It was wonderful what they did last year.”

And Freeman isn’t just sitting by her phone waiting for the Young Professionals to call. She’s already been out there hitting the pavement going to businesses and medical offices to see if they will contribute to the program.

Armed with newspaper stories about Secret Santa and other information, Freeman has been explaining in person how valuable the program is.

Her reason?

“It’s when you think about the kids in the county,” she said.

Anyone who wants to help out the children of Lawrence County through the Secret Santa program can do so in two ways.

They can send a check of any amount they wish made out to the LEDC Secret Santa and send it to the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce office, P.O. Box 488, South Point, OH 45680.

Or they can also sponsor children by contacting Casey Baker of the Young Professionals at 304-691-8410 or emailing at lcypgroup@gmail.com.