Sara Bowser of Liberty wraps one of many presents for the Blotts Kids Holiday project at Church Hill United Methodist Church Thursday morning...by R. Michael Semple

Staff report

LIBERTY — Volunteers with the Blott Kids Holiday Project wrapped presents for 78 children in 56 families on Thursday at Church Hill United Methodist Church — the culmination of an effort by the entire Liberty community to bring Christmas to families in need.

“The people of Liberty Township care about these children and are always eager to support the Blott Kids Holiday Project,” said the project’s coordinator, Sharon Wathen.

Each child will receive an outfit, a toy, a game and a book, and families will get gift cards to Giant Eagle, Walmart and Aldi so they can shop for a holiday meal.

Giving trees were set up at Church Hill, the Liberty branch library, and Denny’s Restaurant, and giving boxes for donations were set up at Temple El Emeth and the Jewish Community Center. Monetary donations were used to purchase items for children whose gift tags were not taken off of a tree.

The Blott Kids project was started more than 40 years ago by Gretchen Reed, a third grade teacher at E.J. Blott Elementary who realized that some children would not have clothing and gifts for Christmas. Today, the project works with Liberty schools to identify children in preschool through fourth grade who need help during the holidays.

Wathen said that this year, families also will receive special care packages with fruit, candy and handmade crafts and two sock snowmen — one to keep and one to share with another family.

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