MORGANTOWN — “You either know or you don’t know,” Esha Sharma said.
“We hear words like ‘drug epidemic’ and we see the criminal ramifications, but it’s easy to forget that there are so many consequences for children. The number of kids in need is overwhelming. To a lot of people, it would probably be shocking.”
Sharma knows.
She was a law clerk for Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge Susan Tucker when she got her first glimpse at the enormity of the problem.
She created the Holiday Toy Drive in response.
This will be the third year for the drive, which provides holiday gifts for children in the custody of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Boxes have been placed in the Monongalia County Justice Center, where new toys can be dropped off through Dec. 10. That’s when DHHR case workers will collect, wrap and distribute the goods, which go to Monongalia County children in DHHR custody.
“DHHR is overwhelmed in a lot of ways, but one of the ways the community can help is easing the burden of them trying to find a way to make Christmas great for these kids, who are already going through so much,” said Sharma, who’s recruited additional resources to the fight as president of the Monongalia County Bar Association.
“I’m hoping even after my presidency the Mon County Bar will continue to support it,” she said.
If you have questions or you’d prefer to set up a cash donation, contact Sharma at 304-225-1405.
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