Readers can help neighbors through Operation Lend-A-Hand

By ANDREA HOWE

andrea@pdclarion.com

PRINCETON-Daily Clarion readers are welcome to partner with the newspaper for a 17th holiday season in Operation Lend-A-Hand, which will provide toys and clothing to children in the community.

The children, pre-screened for need through The Salvation Army of Gibson/Pike County, are profiled below.

Over the years, hundreds of youngsters have received new toys and clothes at Christmas time through the program.

Readers can participate two ways. Chose a family or a child, contact the PDC at 385-2525 (ask for Andrea Howe) to confirm your sponsorship, then shop for toys and clothing based on information in the profile. Bring the items to the offices of Princeton Publishing at 100 N. Gibson Street Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We'll deliver the items in time for Christmas.

The deadline for delivering items to the newspaper office is Wednesday, Dec. 16.

Or, if you prefer, send a donation noting which family you'd like to sponsor and we'll do the shopping. If you have no specific designation, we'll apply it evenly. We use some of the contributed funds to purchase grocery gift certificates at local grocery stores for the families.

Profiles are listed below:

Family 1: A 10-year-old boy's favorite color is blue, and he wears size medium shirts and coats and gloves, and size 10 boys pants. He'd appreciate any toy, but likes remote control cars and trucks.

His 7-year-old brother's favorite color is purple. He also wears medium shirts, coats and gloves, but wears a size 8 in pants. He would like cars and a skateboard.

Family 2: A 12-year-old boy's favorite color is blue. He wears size 12R pants, size 14/18 shirts and large coats. He enjoys fishing and hunting supplies, Wii games and Playstation2 games.

Family 3: A 3-year-old boy likes Power Rangers, GI Joes and Spiderman. His favorite color is blue, and he wears size 4T shirts and coats and size 3T pants.

His 2-year-old sister likes Hannah Montana items, dolls and "make-up." Her favorite color is pink. She wears size 3T clothing, except dresses, which are 4T.

The 1-year-old sister likes purple. She enjoys dolls, toys that light up and jewelry. She wears size 2T shirts and pants and a 3T coat or dress.

The 6-month-old baby sister likes pink. She would enjoy a bouncy seat, rattles or a walker. She wears size 9/12 month shirts and pants and 12-month coats and dresses.

Family 4: A 12-year-old boy likes Spiderman figurines, games and family DVDs. He wears size 12/14 shirts and pants, size 14/16 coat, and his favorite color is red.

His 10-year-old brother wears size 12/14 pants and shirts, size 14/16 coat and his favorite color is blue. He would like a Nerf gun, finger skateboards and movies.

Their three-year-old brother likes the color yellow, and wears size 5 shirts and coats, size 4 pants. He would like Spongebob Squarepants toys and DVDs.

Their 3-month-old brother wears size 3 month pants, shirts and coats. His favorite color is blue, and he would enjoy rattles, baby toys and musical toys.

Family 5: A 5-year-old boy's favorite color is green, and he wears size 7 shirts and 7 slim pants and size 8 coat. He would like the movie "Up," a Play-Doh restaurant and dinosaurs and cars.

Family 6: An 8-year-old girls likes purple, would enjoy a CD boom box, Hannah Montana or High School Musical related items. She wears size 7 shirts and pants and a size 6 coat.

Her 7-year-old sister likes pink and would enjoy the same toys as her older sister. She wears size 6 shirt, pants and coat and a size 7 dress.

Their 5-year-old brother likes camouflage colored clothing. He wears a size 5 shirt, pants and coats. He would like a V-Smile or other learning games or Super Heroes.

The baby brother, age 3, likes the color blue and wars 2T shirts, pants and coats. He likes puzzles, trucks and puppies.

Family 7: An 11-year-old boy wears XL shirts and coat, size 18 Husky pants, and likes the color blue. He would enjoy "Action Men," video games for a Playstation2 and toy wrestlers or anything related to Michael Jackson.

His 8-year-old sister likes pink and wears size 8 shirts, pants, dresses and a medium coat. She would like Hannah Montana items, dress-up clothes and makeup and manicure items.

Their 6-year-old brother likes the color blue, wears size 7 pants and shirts, a medium coat. He would like wrestler toys, Tech Deck and PS2 video games.

Family 8: This 11-year-old boy likes the colors blue and green. He wears a man's large shirt and coat, size 36x30L pants and likes model cars, Bop-It and Mario and Sonic Winter games for the Wii.

His 8-year-old sister likes blue and purple and wars size 12/14 shirts, size 14 pants and coat and dress, and would like a scooter, a guitar and Hannah Montana items.

Their 9-year-old brother likes the color orange, wears size 10/12 shirts, medium coat and size 10 pants. He would like a Pogo stick, a Razor scooter or a walkie-talkie.

Family 9: A 5-year-old girl likes the colors black and blue, wears size 6 shirts, size 7 coat and size 5T pants. She likes educational toys, a V-Smile and V-Smile games.

An 18-month-old girl likes the color pink, wears size 3T clothing and likes light-up and musical toys.

Family 10: A 10-year-old girl likes the color blue and wears size XXL shirts and coat, Petite 1X pants and would like an iCarly and a Liv doll.

Her 11-year-old brother likes the color yellow, wears size XXL shirts, pants and coats. He would like games, an Xbox 360 and a DVD.

Their 2-year-old sister's favorite color is blue. She wears size 4T shirts and pants and coat and would like learning toys, and Dora toys.