From staff and press reports
Winston Plywood and Veneer Employees presented a room full of toys to Child Protective Services on December 19 as part of what WPV employees are calling “Christmas from the Heart”.
“We just felt that it was a great opportunity to come full circle and give back to the community,” said Vice President of Human Resources Susan Holland.
Plant manager Ken Carter proposed the partnership with Child Proctective Services and the toy drive.
“I bought the first bike and everybody else said hey I think I’ll meet that challenge," Carter said. "It’s all about the love of the children and giving of Christmas holiday and spirit. That’s what we’re about here at Winston Plywood."
Winston County CPS Social Work Supervisor Joann Clark thanked the Winston Plywood employees for providing so many gifts for the children.
"Christmas is not about all of the things you get but the kids do deserve to have something to wake up to have and enjoy,” said Clark. “This is more than nice. You do not know how much it means for these families.”
She noted that CPS had about 33 children in Winston County in foster care and about another 25 families working with CPS.
"It's so nice to have someone come to us and provide help without us having to ask for assistance,” said Clark.
Carter noted he plans to hold the “Christmas from the Heart” again next year with even more toys bought for area children in need.
Winston Plywood and Veneer President and CEO John Pierce noted how good it was to have such an outpouring for the children.
“ We feel blessed by this community and we want to give back. Everyone has a heart for kids that don't have what they should,” said Pierce.
The City of Louisville, in cooperation with the State of Mississippi, Winston Plywood & Veneer and its parent company, Atlas Holdings LLC rebuilt the state-of-the-art plywood mill after the 2014 tornado.
The original mill, built in the 1960s and idled since 2009, was destroyed on April 28, 2014 when an F4 tornado struck Louisville.
Winston Plywood & Veneer has team members from 14 counties including Winston, Oktibbeha, Choctaw, Lowndes, Clay, Webster, and Chickasaw.
“We feel we have been given this opportunity to, in a small way, pay it back to some of the most helpless and needy in our area,” stated Angela Marlowe, PHR HR Generalist Winston Plywood & Veneer LLC.
CPS is a relatively new department since separated from Department of Human Services last year and established under Mississippi Supreme Court Justice David Chandler of Louisville who retired from the agency in August 2017.
Former Supreme Court Justice Jess Dickinson took over the agency in August.
Almost 6,000 children are in the custody of CPS across the state.
When a child enters the state's custody, he or she goes into foster care—and stays there until the child is either reunited with family or adopted. Adoption requires the court to terminate the child's parents' parental rights
