Christmas is, and should always be, a time of spiritual reflection and celebration.

 On the secular side it is the time of year when our children have the biggest smiles and the greatest expectations and are generally spoiled beyond belief.

 There are some children who do not enjoy this time of year as much as others are able to. They are the 100 children age 11 and up, who are being cared for by the kind folks who run Project Adventure.

 These children live in 14 group homes in the Covington area, for the most part because they have been neglected, abused or abandoned by their parents. Just like every volunteer group, Project Adventure’s ability to raise funds has been severely impacted this year.

 To help these kids who are not going to receive that special love that only a family can give, you can call (770) 490-8817 and ask the people who run Project Adventure what the immediate needs of the organization or the children are. You can give a gift card from local stores, or you can buy special gifts like bags of men’s white tube socks or white T-shirts and boxers.

 If there is a restaurant or grocery store that would like to donate Christmas dinner, Project Adventure volunteers would be glad to hear from you.

 You can also give a cash donation, which will be used for the kids this Christmas season.

 The folks who run and volunteer at Project Adventure deserve a special word of praise because they provide a safe haven of warmth, love and hope for disadvantaged children not only at Christmas, but also all year long.

 Volunteers will be needed to help with wrapping presents and decorating for the children’s Christmas party. If you can volunteer, please call (770) 490-8817 or visit projectadventurekids.org.