to pass out the gifts to the parents and children.
Partner churches include Immanuel Baptist, Eubank Baptist, Science Hill Nazarene, High Street Baptist, Mt. Lebanon Missionary Baptist, Pleasant View Baptist, Neeley’ s Creek Missionary Baptist, Oak Grove Baptist, Canaan Baptist, Slate Branch Baptist, Somerset Christian, Refuge Pentecostal, Crossroads Community and Somerset First Christian Church.
“ Churches have events for the children where the parents pick up the gifts," said Foor. " They have programs for the children and they receive a backpack that day containing school supplies, an outfit of clothes, a small toy and a Bible. And some churches also give out food boxes at their events as well."
Padgett said the partnership with the churches has eliminated different entities having the same names on their lists, helping get the gifts to more families.
“ Partnering with the churches has really helped to streamline the process and helped to ensure that the names were not on multiple lists at the same
time. It helps to ensure we can help as many people as possible,” said Padgett.“ It’ s not about not letting a kid have as many gifts as they can get. It’ s about making sure as many kids as possible can get a gift on Christmas.”
Monetary donations can also be made directly to the Somerset Junior Woman’ s Club and at any Citizens National Bank branch by depositing it into the Somerset Junior Woman’ s Club Operation Angel Care account.
Monetary donations are not only welcome, they are needed, Padgett said, to assure that a child signed up receives a gift bag.
“ Sometimes someone will pick up a couple of angels and forget to bring them back. We still have those names on our registry and suddenly there is no gift for that child and we have to go out and buy one," she said.“ And sometimes we have gotten down to the week of the events and had to ask for additional money to purchase items for the children, so monetary donations are vital to the success of the program.
Also anyone wanting to donate money can scan the club’ s PayPal and Venmo QR codes to make donations.
Padgett said the number of children being served continues to grow each year but the club’ s focus remains the same.
“ When we started this program we had no idea it would one day reach these levels," she said. " All along our motto has been All Children Deserve a Good Christmas and it still is."
Somerset Junior Woman ' s Club President Wynona Padgett, left, and Operation Angel Care Chair Lisa Foor
165 Hwy 2227 • Somerset, KY 42503
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December 2025 SEKY- Southeast Kentucky Life • 21