A sentiment that has blossomed and persevered throughout all the challenges of 2020 is a desire to help others. Numerous local organizations, businesses, and institutions have done their part to lend a hand to the less fortunate during this difficult holiday season. The following is a selection of the many charitable gifts provided by Savannah-area organizations in recent weeks.

SD Gunner Fund pays pediatric debts for struggling families

The SD Gunner Fund is a volunteer organization aiming to help local families in need. After hearing about Chatterbox Pediatric Therapy’s request to help families pay off medical bills, the group came to the rescue by covering over $8,500 in medical expenses for ten families of Chatterbox patients. “Today was truly a holiday blessing,” said SD Gunner Fund Founder Britnee Kinard.

A $2,500 donation to Senior Citizens, Inc.

Senior Citizens, Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing local elders with a variety of services such as transportation, in-home care, and delivered meals. With a donation of $2,500 provided by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Cora Bett Thomas Realty, Senior Citizens, Inc. had its resources boosted to assist those who might not have been able to enjoy a warm meal over the holidays.

Sterling Seacrest Partners supports local nonprofits

Carrying on their annual “12 Days of Christmas” holiday-season charity drive this year, the risk-management and insurance-brokerage firm Sterling Seacrest Partners encouraged employees to contribute specific items to benefit varied nonprofit organizations. The firm also reached out to local nonprofit Urban Hope to organize a contest for children to illustrate what Christmas means to them, and provided contributions to every child who submitted an artwork.

A $500,000 donation to the Georgia Historical Society Endowment

The family of Laurie Kimball Abbott and Jane Maud Harty Abbott donated $500,000 to the Georgia Historical Society Endowment in recognition of the couple’s philanthropic efforts. The Abbotts were active members of many organizations, including the Georgia Historical Society, where Mr. Abbott served on the Board of Curators and as President from 2002-2004. Mrs. Abbott, who established the GHS Laurie K. Abbott Endowment Fund, died in May of 2020.

Over 100 gifts donated to Savannah’s Union Mission

For over 25 years, the Savannah College of Art and Design has partnered with Savannah’s Union Mission to provide presents for children and their families while they are either experiencing homelessness or struggling to provide for themselves. This year SCAD donated clothing, toys, books, electronics, bicycles, and more to these families in need, spreading some much needed holiday cheer.

A donation of $1,000 to Backpacks of Love

For the second year in a row, the Dewitt Tilton Group supported Backpacks of Love’s fight to eliminate hunger among school-aged children living in Bryan County by donating $1,000 toward their cause. Along with providing this funding, Dewitt Tilton Group employees also lent a hand in assembling food packages that were provided to underprivileged schoolchildren and their families.

A donation of hand sanitizer for local churches

Doing its part to help keep the ongoing coronavirus pandemic at bay, the team behind the region’s ExperCARE urgent-care facilities spread holiday cheer by providing over 3,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to 25 different churches in the Savannah and Richmond Hill area. “We want everyone to do their part to keep safe during the holidays and we’re happy to help in this small way,” said ExperCARE CEO Catherine Grant.

A donation of $1,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire

A local group of maritime and port-logistics workers called Savannah Maritime After Hours provided a $1,000 donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire this holiday season. The group decided to donate the remaining money left over from events they hosted this year as a way to give back to their community. This marks the seventh consecutive year that the maritime workers have supported RMHC during the holidays.

Savannah’s 7th-annual Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway

Local nonprofit organizations Bike Walk Savannah and Blessings in a Book Bag joined forces to provide area children with bikes, protective helmets, and safety tips on how to bike safely around the neighborhood. Bike Walk Savannah – an organization dedicated to improving conditions for area cyclists and pedestrians – regularly accepts used children’s bicycles and fixes them up to be donated, with Blessings in a Book Bag identifying the kids in need.

A canned-food donation for America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia

For the 13th year in a row, employees of Savannah’s municipal government collected canned food to donate to the America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia food bank, which has been striving to meet increased demand amid the pandemic’s economic hardships. “People who need food now are unlike those who have ever needed it before, and the fact of the matter is, regardless of your pay scale, if you need to eat, you need to eat,” said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson.

This article appears in Dec 30, 2020 – Jan 5, 2021.