The Kids Yule Love story goes back 26 years to a hot summer month in August of 1986. Joe Allen, a Macon Firefighter who owned

a Home inspection Business was called to a south Macon home to inspect the home for the Home Builders of Macon and the Realtors

 of Macon. It was the time of the year that they picked a home to fix up for a family that did not have the funds to repair their home

where much needed repairs were needed.

That morning when the MTI Home Inspection  team arrived, the owner of MTI had to explain, after the inspection, to the late Jane Rozette

of the SSK Realty Company, that the home was not in a repairable condition. The inspection had found many holes in the floors, as well

as the roof. There was also electrical wiring that was exposed. This made it a very unsafe environment for the 4 toddlers, as well as,

Jody Cotton, his sister and Grandmother whom lived in the home.

.

Mrs. Rozette, decided to go the extra mile and purchase a home a few blocks away. Jody was in a wheel chair, his twin brother had

 died several months earlier from MD and his mother and father both were deceased. Jody 16 who also had MD, died also after

 Christmas early the following year. But, rest assured Jody and his family had a wonderful Christmas due to people giving to Kids Yule Love,

 plus the Cotton family had a home that they were safe in. Joe had asked Jody that  August day what they would have for Christmas that

 was four months away. He was told they do not get Christmas since his Grandmother's only income came from  working  in a soup

kitchen and she did not make much money. Joe left the inspection that day very distressed and wondering how to help.

The firefighter came up with the idea of making sure this family and others would get the help  they needed for Christmas. He asked all

the media from TV and radio to Cox Cable and the newspapers,  Fire Department's, as well as, other business leaders to come to a meeting

that he needed them to attend several weeks later. The first meeting was held at the old Sizzler on Riverside Drive next to WBML radio

 station. He told those there he  had an idea that might work to help those that were not on any other list for help from other agencies. 

 He was so proud that they all came. There were even agency's that attended the meeting that already gave assistance to others. The

 next meeting was held at the Sizzler in Warner Robins. Attending those meetings were many business leaders from Houston and Bibb

county.  The late Mr. Bill Boyd  came up with the name for the program that is popular all over Georgia and some parts of the US. It was

at those meetings that the program we know today as  Kids Yule Love was born.

Joe also received  additional assistance  from the Macon Rescue Mission and the late Wayne Beville. who was director at that time,

as well as, the late Bill Boyd who wrote for the Macon Telegraph, who had been very involved with Toys for Tots in Chicago early on in

his life as a Marine. Councilman Ed Defore, as well as, the late Chairman of the Bibb County Commission, Mr. Emory Green, the

 Directors of the Department of Family and Children Services from Bibb and Houston counties as well as many others.

Joe knew he needed  the schools if this program was going to work.  He went to Tattnall Square Academy and talked to Barney Hester

and Ruby Jo Argo first, as well as, other schools in the area. Tattnall has been with Kids Yule Love for the  entire 26 years of the

 program. Mary Persons High School in Forsyth is also very important to this program. They support us year after year.

The program rose up  one year to having over 40 counties involved.  Some counties have come and gone and some have come back

 again to be involved with the program.

Kids Yule Love has added many affiliated programs in its 26 years of existence, to help kids and seniors throughout the year. There

 is the Kids School Tools program which helps with schools supplies, the Seniors Yule Love program for senior citizens, run by our

 director, Shelly Faircloth, who have no family to visit them or bring them a gift at Christmas and the Santa letter program that

responds to children's Santa letters. These letters are hand written by Mrs. Santa, Joyce Turner and returned to the children, each

 one specifically written to that child. The Santa letter program has received letters from all over the world, due to industries from

other countries which are also located here in the  Macon area, Joyce recently retired from Wesleyan College. There have been many

 Easter Egg Hunts throughout the years at Central City Park sponsored by Kids Yule Love. Another affiliated program, Baskets of Joy,

which  is run by Clay and Katie Jones gives Easter baskets to children who are at local children's homes. And we cannot forget the

Jaycees, that sponsored  Birthday parties for many kids for Kids Yule Love at one time. There is also the Smoke Detector Program  

which places smoke detectors in the homes of people who cannot afford them. The high point of this program came with Flint Energies

 of Houston County gave more than 5000 smoke detectors which were placed in all homes in Taylor county and other counties that were

 Flint customers by fire fighters from those counties. And last but not least, we have Santa Claus who helps out by making visits to

your child's Christmas party and also visiting terminally ill children all year round.

The Kids Yule Love  program over its 26 years, has had its ups and downs. It has had sad memories due to death, some very key role

 models, Sandra Jones who was the Macon Director for many years and  represented the City of Macon. Mr. Boyd who named

 Kids Yule Love as well as countless others who donated their time and money and efforts to make this program what it is today.

 In 26 years it had only 2 paid staff members, but none in the last 15 years.

given of their time for 26 years to make this program a success. 

This is our 26th year and even with all the hardships that are among us,  I feel it will be our finest year. Please

don't ever forget that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Go to www.kidsyulelove.com for more information and counties

served. Kids Yule Love is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and a member of the Better Business Bureau.