T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Alaire King, second from right, executive director of the Community Action Commission of Belmont County, accepts a donation from Michael Shaheen, right, of Shaheen Law Group, his wife Robyn, leftmost, and Heather Cook, second from left, manager of Hann-Jamm Properties and paralegal at the firm.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Shaheen Law Group and Hann-Jamm Properties made a donation to help the Community Action Commission of Belmont County give a merry Christmas to local children.

Michael Shaheen, owner of the law firm and Hann-Jamm, said his firm has consistently participated in the program for close to 10 years.

Alaire King, executive director of the CAC, said the agency is grateful for donations, the amount of which was not disclosed.

“Each year, the local schools give us names of children who most likely will not be receiving much for Christmas, if anything at all. So with these donations we shop and try to personalize as much as possible for the kids and then deliver to the schools in advance of Christmas,” she said. “They give us a list of wishes of what they would like.”

King said efforts like these send a message that there are people in the community who care.

She said the CAC is able to provide gifts for almost 50 children.

“It depends on how much we receive in donations as to how many children we can help. This year we were able to serve about 40,” she said, adding that this is the typical number.

King said they most often get gifts for high school and middle school students.

“The reason we do that is those are typically the kids who don’t get their names chosen off of the (Christmas Giving) trees,” she said.

Shaheen said he was happy to help.

“It’s a cause I feel very strongly about, as I’ve shared in the past,” he said. “I was raised with that type of thought process and mentality because of my mom’s generosity. I remember when I was little, she would always call the school (to get) a list of kids who needed something, and I used to tease her: She was the first secret Santa.

“Robyn and I feel exceptionally privileged because Alaire runs this entity now, so it’s one of the things we do this season that makes us feel good, it makes us feel blessed. We’re thankful for Alaire’s good work and that she can help so many kids.”

Health Cook, manager Hann-Jamm Properties and paralegal for the firm, said,

“I’m just grateful I’m part of an organization that can help the kids.”

“This program’s run all through donations. We don’t get any other funding for this program. There’s no federal or state grant money that goes into this, so if it weren’t for people like Michael and Heather, this program wouldn’t exist,” King said.

Anyone wishing to learn more can visit the CAC website at cacbelmont.org or call 740-695-0293, ext. 234.