By STU CLAMPITT
news@readthereporter.com
From 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, 300 people came together to give Christmas to 42 families in Hamilton County.
Secret Families of Hamilton County (SFHC) is an organization that delivers Christmas to families with school-age children in need. According to Jay Kern, Secret Families began in 2004 from an agreement between a husband and wife to buy gifts for a struggling family instead of for each other. Eighteen years later, the charity now delivers Christmas to almost 400 families in Delaware County and has expanded to six additional counties in central Indiana, including Hamilton.
Reporter photo by Stu Clampitt
It is called Secret Families because it is a secret on both sides: who the gifts are coming from and who they are going to. Shoppers only know first names, gender and ages to buy for. Kern said this is both unique and personalized.
“I think for me what I’ve really enjoyed is when my kids have done the shopping for other kids, and they’ve learned that it’s more fun to give than to receive, and seeing the excitement on their faces when they are picking out the perfect toy for a kid that was on their list,” Leachia Kern told The Reporter.
Leachia and Jay have been volunteering with Secret Families in Hamilton County for about four years. She said since the world is opening back up after the pandemic, more people are getting involved than ever before.
“What I have noticed the most is that we have definitely had more volunteers,” Leachia said. “People wanting to get involved and helping out and being active in the community again.”
Jay wanted to be clear about what who this group is helping.
“While there is a perception that everyone is affluent in Hamilton County, over 14,000 people fall below the poverty line,” Jay said. “This is larger than the entire populations of 11 Indiana counties. Each year SFHC works with principals and counselors at local elementary schools to identify families in need. This may be due to illness or death of a parent, loss of a job, natural disaster, or any other number of circumstances.”
Reporter photo by Stu Clampitt
Saturday shopping began at 6:30 a.m. at Meijer, 225 W. Spring Mill Pointe Drive, Westfield. Wrapping and delivery went on from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CrossRoads Church at Westfield, 19201 Grassy Branch Road.
“All of our families are referred by elementary school counselors and principals,” Jay said. “Counselors and principals know what’s going on with these families better than anybody else. It’s not about poverty level. Somebody could have lost their dad. It could be the loss of a job. It could be medical bills.”
Secret Families works with all the school systems in Hamilton County, though this year the organization focused on Hamilton Heights, Sheridan, and Westfield.
To get involved, go to Facebook.com/sfccofhc or secretfamilieshc.org to find information on how to get registered for next year.
For a short video explaining the history of Secret Families, go to tinyurl.com/SecretFamiliesHistoryVideo.
Photos provided by Secret Families Christmas Charities of Hamilton County