In the state of Georgia there are several thousand citizens living in Georgia’s 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-nine years ago, in 1958, the Georgia Municipal Association and then-Governor Ernest Vandiver created the Mayor’s Christmas Motorcade to help these hospital patients celebrate Christmas by providing each with a present.

The staff at the regional hospitals tells us that without the Mayor’s 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 your help.

The hospital clients are part of our community, drawn from a region, and we would like to encourage all of you to remember them this holiday season.

West Central Georgia Regional Hospital located in Columbus is the hospital that the city of Fayetteville is supporting.

If your school, church, business, or civic group would like to partner with the city of Fayetteville in participating in an outstanding holiday community project, please contact Anne Barnard at 770-719-4159 for further information on how you can get involved.

You will find enclosed a prepared “Christmas Wish List” for the clients. Let’s not forget those less fortunate during the holiday season.

Examples of gifts to consider are as follows (Please remember most patients are adults):

Miscellaneous gifts: Board games, cards, t-shirts, baseball caps, watches, Walkman radios, top 40 tapes/cd, wallets.

Personal care items: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs/brushes, cosmetics, shaving lotion, deodorant, after shave, cosmetic cases, shampoo/conditioner, body lotion.

Miscellaneous gifts: Stationery, pens/pencils, tote bags, cookies/snacks, movies (PG or G only), hair accessories.

New clothing: (Extra large through 4X for women and small for men) Pajamas/nightgowns/bathrobes, socks, underwear, bedroom shoes, tennis shoes, hats, sweat shirts/pants.

Please send new and unwrapped gifts. Donations of wrapping paper, ribbons and bows are also needed. Cash donations are welcome. Checks should be made out to the hospital in your region. Thank you for sharing holiday joy.

Mayor Ken Steele

Motorcade Chairman

Fayetteville, Ga.

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