Hundreds of local children will wake up Christmas morning to find presents under their trees thanks to dozens of volunteers determined to make holiday wishes come true.

K.A.R.E. for Kids, the Dawsonville-based non-profit organization that strives to serve the community's less fortunate families, provided Christmas presents to more than 700 local children in 2015.

Funded by profits from the annual Mountain Moonshine Festival, the group of volunteers purchases items such as winter coats, shoes, clothing, medicine, toys for Christmas and provides year-round assistance to families in need.

K.A.R.E. for Kids also depends on the community's generosity and receives support from local organizations, individual families and businesses.

KARE for Kids volunteers decorate Christmas trees adorned with cards shaped like stars describing a child and what the child would like to receive for Christmas. While most of the requests include toys such as dolls and video games, other children ask for hooded sweatshirts and mittens.

K.A.R.E. for Kids asks community members and visitors to pick a star, purchase the items on the star and return gifts to the same location.

K.A.R.E. for Kids is currently accepting applications for the 2016 Christmas season.

For more information, visit www.kareforkids.us, email info@kareforkids.us or call (706) 216-5273.

How to get help

K.A.R.E. for Kids is currently accepting holiday assistance applications for the 2016 Christmas season.

In order to qualify for assistance, families must meet all of the following requirements:

You must live fulltime in Dawson County along with your child or children that you are applying assistance for;

Your child or children must live with you;

If your child or children is school aged, they must attend Dawson County schools;

Your child or children must be school aged or younger; and

You must not receive assistance from any other agency this Christmas season.

To apply, you must bring copies of each of the following with you for us to keep to be considered:

·         GA driver’s license

·         Proof of residency (utility bill)

·         School report card (if child or children attend school)

·         Pay stubs for two months

You will need to know:

·         Your child or children’s exact clothes and shoe sizes

·         Specific clothing needs for your child or children

·         3 specific items that your child or children would like for Christmas (one itme under $50 and two items under $20).

·         Your child or children homeroom teacher (if attending school)

K.A.R.E. for Kids will be accepting holiday assistance applications for the 2016 Christmas season at the following times and dates:

Oct. 29                  9 a.m. to noon.

Nov. 1                   6 to 8 p.m.

Nov. 5                   9 a.m. to noon

Nov. 7                   6 to 8 p.m.

Nov. 12                 9 a.m. to noon

Nov. 14                 6 to 8 p.m.

Nov. 19                 9 a.m. to noon

Applications will be accepted at 86 Hwy. 53 East (Hockenhull Building), Dawsonville.

For more information, call (706) 216-5273.