Motorcade helps 'less fortunate' at Christmas

Editor:

In the state of Georgia there are several thousand citizens living in Georgias seven regional mental health and retardation hospitals. Many of these patients have lived in these hospitals most of their lives and have little, if any, contact with or support from friends or family.

Forty-four years ago, in 1958, the Georgia Municipal Association and then-Gov. Ernest Vandiver created the Mayors Christmas Motorcade to help these hospital patients celebrate Christmas by providing each with a present. The staff at the regional hospitals tell us that without the Mayors Christmas Motorcade, many patients would go without any type of gift or recognition during the holidays. Our city has started its gift-collection campaign and we are asking for the communitys help. The hospital clients are part of our community, drawn from a region, and we would like to encourage everyone to remember them this holiday season.

If your church, school, business or civic group would like to participate in an outstanding holiday community project, please contact Jean Dove or Kathy Sparks at Harlem City Hall (556-3448) for further information on how you can get involved.

Lets not forget those less fortunate during the holiday season.

Jean R. Dove

City Manager

Harlem