United Way of Central Georgia is excited to spread joy throughout Central Georgia through The Merrie Christmas Project for a second year. In 2019, hundreds of families benefited from the generous donations that poured into Central Georgia to make The Merrie Christmas Project a reality. Families in need were given the opportunity to come to area Walmart stores to meet with the United Way team and select Christmas presents for their families.  The United Way initiative was also able to gift Christmas trees, décor, and meals to families. In its second year, The Merrie Christmas Project has already distributed 100 Christmas trees and wreaths to families in Central Georgia. Starting this Friday, December 11^th at 9 am, families will meet United Way team members and volunteers at Walmart stores for the 2020 The Merrie Christmas Project shopping event.

Dates and times are listed below: (Walmart Harrison Road unless otherwise indicated)

Fri, Dec. 11 

9:00-11:00 am

1:00-3:00 pm

5:00-7:00 pm

Sat, Dec 12

9:00-11:00 am (Walmart Gray Hwy)

5:00-7:00 pm

7:00-9:00 pm

Mon, Dec 14

9:00-11:00 am

1:00-3:00 pm

5:00-7:00 pm

Wed, Dec. 16

9:00-11:00 am

1:00-3:00 pm

5:00-7:00 pm

Media is invited to attend the shopping events. Please RSVP to Laura Stauter with the date/time you plan to attend. Clearance is also advised from Walmart’s Corporate Office.

The Merrie Christmas Project was established in 2019 in loving memory of Merrie Kaplan by United Way of Central Georgia, alongside her parents, Mike and Nancy Kaplan, to provide food, holiday decorations, and gifts to local families in need during the holiday season. United Way of Central Georgia and the Kaplan family would like to thank the local community for their generous support of The Merrie Christmas Project with special thanks given to Brad Mitchell (Macon Monogramming) and Shane Buerster (Z Beans) for helping raise funds to bring happiness and joy at Christmas in Merrie‘s memory. 

United Way of Central Georgia is a leading funder of health and human service organizations that have a measurable impact in fourteen Central Georgia counties and impact the lives of one in four local people annually. The annual campaign supports 43 programs along with 29 program partners. United Way initiatives include READ UNITED, MISSION UNITED, PINK PROMISE UNITED, RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities), Familywize, FIRST STEPS, myfreetaxes.com, Volunteer UNITED, The Merrie Christmas Project, Parents as Teachers, the Golden Eagle Awards, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. United Way of Central Georgia also funds a free, confidential seven-days a week, 24-hours a day information and referral line serving all of Central Georgia. Dial 2-1-1 to find or give help.  For more information about what United Way of Central Georgia is do