For Immediate Release:
September 6, 2018
Contact: Katherine Morris
katherine.morris@ maryland.gov
St. Mary’s County Department of Social Services Celebrates National Child Support Awareness Month By Giving Back to the Community
St. Mary’s County, Maryland — St. Mary’s County Department of Social Services (DSS) rewarded youth raffle giveaway winners with bicycles, helmets, and McDonald’s gift cards in celebration of National Child Support Awareness Month. The St. Mary’s County DSS Child Support team, in conjunction with community partners, the State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department, gave back to the community using earnings from a previous raffle giveaway run in July. The St. Mary’s County Transportation Department also contributed to the National Child Support Awareness Month raffle giveaway, donating five safety flashers in addition to the previously mentioned items given to the lucky winners. St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department partners assisted in the delivery and presentation of the prizes before Labor Day weekend. There were five winners total, all between the ages of two through twelve.
To participate in the National Child Support Awareness Month raffle giveaway, ticket collection boxes were placed at the State’s Attorney’s Child Support Division and St. Mary’s County DSS local offices. Parents could enter their children for prizes by completing the raffle card with their child’s name, sex, age, and a contact number. Six tickets from each DSS location were collected for the final drawing at the end of August.
The previous raffle giveaway in July covered the cost of the National Child Support Awareness Month raffle giveaway in August. The July raffle giveaway consisted of each unit within St. Mary’s County DSS and the SAO. All parties were required to collectively develop and donate an occasion-themed gift basket to be raffled off at the end of July. Basket themes consisted of the following categories: Night at the Movies, Game Night, Day at the Beach, Emergency Preparedness, and Home Spa Day. Potential contestants would enter to win a basket prize by purchasing tickets pricing from 3 tickets for $5.00 to 7 tickets for $10.00. The proceeds from this particular raffle along with internal donations totaled $400.00.
