Annual Mayors' Motorcade needs donations, gifts, wrapping paper

The City of Washington will be doing its part to make the holiday season special for residents of the state's mental health and retardation hospitals, said Mayor Willie Burns.

"This is special for your mayor," he said. "We really make a difference with these gifts."

Donated items from Washington and Wilkes County will be delivered to the East Central Medical Center in December. Civic organizations, businesses, churches, schools, scout troops and individual citizens are encouraged to help with the collection of gifts for the Mayors' Christmas Motorcade. For more information on how groups can participate, call Fire Chief Alan Poss at 706- 678-7113.

For 48 years, cities across Georgia have brought the joy of the holiday season to patients at Georgia's seven regional mental health and retardation hospitals through the Mayors' Christmas Motorcade.

The program, begun by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) in cooperation with Governor Ernest Vandiver, relies on citizen participation in each city to donate gifts for the patients, many of who would not receive gifts or be recognized without the Mayors' Christmas Motorcade. According to hospital staff, many of the patients at these hospitals have lived there most of their lives and have little, if any, support or contact with friends and family.

The Motorcade needs new, unwrapped gifts, and donations of wrapping paper are welcome. Gifts can include personal care items, games, cards, t-shirts, new clothing, socks, underwear, sweatshirts and pants.

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