Get Involved
Athens County Children Services is an active member of the Athens County community. Throughout the year, we host various events, both large and small. Because of the generous support from our community, we are able to continue hosting these cherished events, year after year.
If you are interested in volunteering for Athens County Children Services or participating in one of our fulfilling internship opportunities, please click this link and fill out the form so our Intern/Volunteer Manager can get in touch!
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About
Every Thursday from 11am – 1pm during the summer months of June and July, Athens County Children Services distributes peanut butter, jelly, bread, and fresh produce at seven locations throughout Athens County.
The Peanut Butter & Jelly Project is a supplemental food assistance program put on by the School Outreach team at Athens County Children Services to address the summer food gap brought about by the loss of school breakfasts and lunches during the school year.
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Get Involved
The PB&J Project is funded through ACCS funds along with community donations and peanut butter and jelly drives held by local businesses, organizations, and individuals. If you would like to support the project by donating or holding a drive, please:
Call: 740-592-3061
E-mail: matthew.starkey@jfs.ohio.gov
Write a check to:
Athens County Children Services
P.O. Box 1046
Athens, OH 45701
Memo Line: PB&J Project
Kidfest
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About
Kidfest is the premier event celebrating children in Athens County, taking place every April as the capstone of activities recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month. 2023 saw a return to the first in-person Kidfest since the COVID-19 pandemic that uprooted all our lives.
In our first year back at Walter Fieldhouse on Ohio University’s campus, we had an amazing turnout from the community, vendors, volunteers, and of course, children. We will continue this storied Athens County tradition of putting on a fun, inexpensive day of crafts, activities, food, games and more that we and our community have come to cherish.
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Get Involved
To find out more about Kidfest and how you can become involved, please call 740-592-3061.
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About
Athens County Children Services started the Kicks for Kids program in 2022 to provide children in Athens County with a pair of new tennis shoes as they head back to school. Every child deserves to enter the school year without the stigma attached to wearing dirty and worn shoes. What can seem like a minor thing in the face of hunger and homelessness, a new, durable pair of shoes can go miles in the way of enhancing a child’s physical and emotional health.
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Get Involved
The Kicks for Kids Program is funded through ACCS funds along with community donations and shoe drives held by local businesses, organizations, and individuals. If you would like to support the project by donating or holding a drive, please:
Call: 740-592-3061
E-mail: matthew.starkey@jfs.ohio.gov
Write a check to:
Athens County Children Services
P.O. Box 1046
Athens, OH 45701
Memo Line: Kicks for Kids
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About
Every year for Kid’s Day at the Athens County Fair, Athens County Children Services provides and afternoon of games, fun, activities, and prizes for children to enjoy.
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Get Involved
You can find a link to the Athens County Fair web site here to see when this year’s Kid’s Day will occur so you can stop by and have some fun with us!
The Athens County Adoptive Families Support Group
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About
The Athens County Adoptive Families Support Group is for parents who have gone through the adoption process or who are about to.
This group’s main goal is to connect families created by all kinds of adoption who live in Athens County.
Contact Laura.Schaeffer@jfs.ohio.gov or 740-592-3061 Ext. 145 for more information.
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Get Involved
The Adoptive Families Support Group holds bi-monthly meetings with a guest facilitator and on off-months, they hold informal gatherings for adoptive families to meet and talk with each other.
Friends of Children Services
About
Friends of Children Services is Athens County Children Services’ affiliate group who puts on the Santa Tree Project, the Superhero and Princess Ball, and leads the advocacy for ACCS’s levy campaigns.
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Get Involved
Ways to help:
1. Monetary donations are also encouraged and are used to meet many of the last minute and special requests that we receive.
Checks can be mailed to PO Box 1046, Athens, OH 45701. Checks should be made out to FRIENDS OF CHILDREN SERVICES, with “Santa Tree Project” included in the memo line.
Donate directly through PayPal by scanning the QR Code below: (NOTE: Chris Innis is the treasurer so it is his name reflected on PayPal. All donations will be for the Santa Tree Project.)2. Select an item from our Amazon Wish List! Our Amazon Wish List has some of our most requested items. If you purchase from that list, the items will be shipped directly to us!
Click here to see our Amazon Wish List!
3. We would love to work with your organization to provide gifts for 5, 25, or more children! We will mail, deliver, or email the “ornaments” for however many children you would like to shop for. Every “ornament” will have the name, age, and holiday wishes for a child we are working with. We will also be happy to pick those gifts up when they are ready – let us know if you are interested in our curbside pick-up option!
If you have any questions, please give us a call at 740.592.3061, or email athenscountysantaproject@gmail.com.
Santa Tree Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I shop for a child?
• Go to The Market on State and select an “ornament” from the Santa Tree. Every “ornament” will have the name, age, and holiday wishes for a child we are working with.
• Call us at 740-592-3061 ext. 448 and leave a message with your contact info and how many children you would like to shop for.
• Sent us an email to athenscountysantaproject@gmail.com
2. I want to help, but don’t have time to go shopping, are there other ways to donate?
• You can donate ONLINE using the Paypal link above.
• Checks can be mailed to Friends of Children Services – PO Box 1046, Athens, OH 45701
• You can also visit our Amazon Wish List! Items on our Amazon Wish List are some of our most requested items and when purchased from our Wish List, get shipped directly to our agency.
3. When are the gifts due back?
• Friday, December 8th
• Gifts can be dropped off at The Market on State. There is a gift return bin in the middle of the mall next to our Santa tree. The bin and the tree will go up at the Market on State on November 14th. The bin is checked several times a day, every day, and has been used safely for over 20 years. The Market on State’s facilities staff assist the agency with checking the bin and keeping an eye on the gifts until they can be picked up.
• Gifts can also be dropped off at ACCS building 10, M-F 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
4. Do the gifts need to be wrapped?
• Please do not wrap gifts. While supplies and funding permits, we will provide families with wrapping paper.
5. If my caseworker signed me up, when and where can I pick up my gifts?
• Check with your caseworker.
6. Where can people drop off their gifts?
• Gifts can be dropped off at The Market on State. There is a gift return bin in the middle of the mall. The bin is checked several times a day, every day, and has been used safely for over 20 years. The Market on State’s facilities staff assist the agency with checking the bin and keeping an eye on the gifts until they can be picked up.
• Gifts can also be dropped off at ACCS building 10, M-F 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
7. How many children does this project help?
• This year, we expect to provide holiday gifts to 400 Athens County Families, or approximately 1000 children.
8. Are all the children in ACCS Foster care?
• About 1/3 of the children served in through the Santa Tree Project are in traditional foster care. Others are in kinship placements or are otherwise working with our workers. 100% of the children are signed up by our staff, who know the families and will be delivering or contact the families to pick up their gifts.
9. Will there be an opportunity for families NOT working with ACCS to sign up?
• At this time, we do not have plans to offer a public sign-up period. We currently lack essential physical resources to be able to extend the Santa Tree Public to the public. -
About
The Santa Tree Project has taken place for over 35 years in Athens County as Athens County Children Services’ annual gift-giving holiday program. While it is proudly organized by Athens County Children Services and our affiliate Friends of Children Services, it is fully funded through the generosity of individuals, families, and businesses in Athens County.
Each year, we continue the tradition of collecting wish lists for each individual child we are serving, and sharing those lists with the community. For every child, we craft a holiday ornament that lists their first name, age, and a few holiday wishes. We make those available so the community can shop directly for the children and then we take those gifts from the community and ensure that they get to each and every child we serve.
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About
The Superhero and Princess Ball is an annual fundraiser held by Friends of Children Services to support their activities, primarily the Santa Tree Project. It is an event where children can sing, dance, craft, eat, and have fun as they interact with volunteers dressed as superheroes and princesses. It is truly a magical afternoon of merriment where children can have a special day with some of their heroes and icons.
Visit superheroprincessball.blogspot.com to purchase tickets and find out more about the event!
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Get Involved
If you would like more information on the Superhero and Princess Ball, visit superheroprincessball.blogspot.com, call 740-592-3061, or e-mail matthew.starkey@jfs.ohio.gov.