They saw a need and now they are filling it.

The Lawrence County Jobs and Family Services Office has routinely gotten monetary incentive awards for exceeding the expectations set for handling certain federal programs.

While the federal government allows the money to be spent on administrative operations or employee raises, that agency's employees recently agreed to take some of the incentive money and spend it to help local children.

Clothes for Kids will provide needy Lawrence County families with $250 per child, or a maximum of $500 per family. The program runs through the month of December only.

&#8220They wanted to do something for the community,” Martin said. &#8220They came up with this idea. They're all excited about this. I asked for volunteers to take applications and about 8 or 10 have agreed to it. Š When you consider the number of families (in need), there's going to be a lot of play on this program, a lot of play.”

To be eligible, the family's income level must be 150 percent of the poverty level or less.

For a family of three, that equates to

$2,012 monthly, or

$2,420 monthly for a family of four. They do not have to be on public assistance to receive the clothing allowance.

The jobs and family services employees each year provide Christmas cheer to approximately 120 households through its Secret Santa program.

This new program, though it is not tied at all to Christmas, will in fact offset the Secret Santa program: Many of the children who receive Secret Santa gifts receive clothing.

By providing clothing through Clothes for Kids, money traditionally spent to buy clothing through the Secret Santa program can be used to provide Christmas help to, say, elderly residents, who also are Secret Santa recipients.

Those interested in the Clothing for Kids program may inquire during the month of December at the jobs and family services office.