Project Agape Love- P.A.L. – Spreading Christmas cheer to those in need

As Christmas quickly approaches, one organization is spreading Holiday cheer to those less fortunate in the Perry and Houston County area.

Perry Volunteer Outreach (PVO) along with Perry High School’s FCCLA organization filled 500 boxes with canned food and dry good items, Wednesday. The organization and volunteers were then set to give away the boxes and toys to families on Friday. Larry Wood, who has been with PVO for over 13 years, said the families who received donations registered back in mid-September.

“P.A.L., Project Agape Love, was started in Perry over 40 years ago,” Wood said. “Different groups within the community such as churches, school clubs, businesses, etc. collect certain dry goods or canned foods and toys, then before Christmas, we put together the boxes and give them to the families.”

Organizations that helped and have done so almost every year are The Westfield School, Perry Hospital, Perdue Farms Inc., Hayward’s Hands, Perry Rotary, and many other businesses and individuals. Wood said the toy drive was started by The Westfield School 12 years ago.

Hayward’s Hands is a charitable organization that was founded by Perry High School graduate and current NFL Los Angeles Chargers cornerback, Casey Hayward. This year his organization sponsored 60 children.

“We serve families in Perry and the southern part of the county,” Wood said. “But Perry is an incredible place, and is very supportive of its community. It warms your heart to see everyone coming together for one another.”