P.J.'s Forgotten Children is looking for Utahns to donate Christmas presents to 600 children whose families are affected by mental illness.
Donations have been slow coming in this year, according to Ivy Spencer of P.J.'s Forgotten Children. That means as yet there aren't enough winter coats and shoes to go around.
"Very few businesses have called (to sponsor a family) this year," Spencer says.
"It's sad that the mentally ill really are the forgotten children," adds Jan Harding, who started the nonprofit organization in 1986 as part of the Utah Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Harding was alarmed by the number of attempted suicides by mentally ill parents who couldn't provide Christmas for their children. When UAMI could no longer administer the program it was established as an independent organization in memory of Patrick John Smith, who died while suffering from a severe mental illness.
P.J.'s Forgotten Children is looking for brand-new clothing, socks and underwear, as well as gift certificates for shoes. "We never give them used clothes at Christmas," Spencer says. "So they can go back to school with dignity." The children are each given "two wants and two needs."
Because wrapping presents can be its own kind of therapy, Spencer says, the donated items are presented to the children's families to wrap. The group also will provide 1,300 Christmas stockings to children in various mental health facilities in Utah, as well as mugs filled with candy for the parents.
Last year, P.J.'s Forgotten Children was helped by volunteers who donated 18,700 hours of service. Only 2 percent of the money raised went for operating expenses, Spencer says. For more information call 466-1475.