Kids need help for Christmas

The clock is ticking for two of Santa's helpers. Just five days before Christmas, Johnitta Pough and Karon Jackson, the principal of School No. 4 in Rochester, still need help fulfilling the Christmas wishes of 62 children. But the people who normally help buy gifts for the kids in need are in need themselves this year.

“Sometimes the people who sponsor are faced with challenges as well,” Pough said, “so sometimes you have people who say I thought I would be able to but I just realized I can't.”

This is the tenth year the women have organized "Jah's Kids Adopt-a-Kid Christmas Program." The program started with 17 children, but it's grown to more than 150 this year. And if Ms. Pough and Ms. Jackson don't get enough sponsors, they'll have to dig deep into their own pockets.

“Sometimes we go out and shop for all kids,” Pough said, “but sometimes it's tough for us as well so that's why we're making this plea.”

For each child, the women ask a sponsor to buy a complete outfit plus a toy. But Ms. Pough and Ms. Jackson have made it easy by collecting pictures of the children, their sizes, plus the toys they're interested in. They say it's not just about giving gifts. It's about helping the children at a tough time.

“We try to make sure we connect with home and connect with the school,” Jackson said. “By connecting with home - especially at this time of the year. It's really bad for some of the kids - anxiety and everything.”

Ms. Pough says she knows what it's like to come from a family that struggled, and that's why she's passing on her generosity and asking others to do the same.

“Sometimes I take from my daughter so that these kids will have, but she's such a good sport,” Pough said. “She'll go ‘Mommy, that's okay because somebody else deserves to have happiness.’”

If you would like to help, contact School No. 4 in the city at 585-235-7848.