LADD — “Making ends meet is a tremendous challenge for many families in our area as they face job layoffs, a poor economy and rising costs,” said Jan Martin, director of Project Success of Eastern Bureau County. “Looking ahead, we foresee a stressful holiday season for many, and in response to the anticipated need, we will once again sponsor Santa’s Workshop.”

Martin said responding to community needs is a fundamental goal of Project Success and one taken quite seriously. Although perhaps not a disaster situation, providing Christmas toys to needy children ranks high in importance among families, and Project Success strives to meet that need with as much fervor as they display “feeding the hungry.”

Santa’s Workshop operates in a two-fold process. First, the names of children in need are collected by Hall Township Food Pantry volunteers. (The giving area includes residents of Arlington, Bureau, Cherry, Dalzell, DePue, Hollowayville, Ladd, Seatonville and Spring Valley.) Parents wishing to have their child or children benefit from the program are asked to stop in to sign them up in the Project Success office at 500 N. Terry St. in Spring Valley.