COLUMN: `Home for the Holidays' entries invited

Larry Alterwitz, president of Walker Furniture, is asking for letters from the public on behalf of Clark County residents in need.

For the eighth consecutive year, the company is sponsoring its "Home for the Holidays" program, which provides 25 families with a houseful of new furniture.

Anyone knowing of a worthy individual or family is asked to send a letter describing the situation. All letters will be reviewed by two independent panels, which will assist in selecting the beneficiaries.

Alterwitz started the program in 1994 with deliveries to 12 families. As the Las Vegas population has grown, so has the program.

"With all of the tragedy going on in our world, it is more important than ever that we remember those in need in our community," he said. "Walker Furniture supports many worthwhile causes throughout the year, but `Home for the Holidays' is particularly gratifying and memorable to us."

Alterwitz said he is pleased with the tremendous growth and support the program has received. This year, two Las Vegas-based businesses have added more cheer to the program: Sonia's Cafe will give each recipient a free family holiday dinner; and Quality Christmas Trees will provide recipients with a gift certificate for a holiday tree.

People who have been helped in the past come from every age group and lifestyle, yet there is a common thread: Through no fault of their own, these people found themselves hampered by poverty, disease, crime or disaster and sometimes a mix of these hardships.

Recipients have included single-parent households that are having difficulty making ends meet, many of them with children suffering from physical or mental disorders; families that lost their homes and belongings to fires; and families that have been affected by illness or domestic violence.

Alterwitz said the response to the program is growing with thousands of letters received last year. The letters typically come from teachers and students, health-care professionals, social workers, neighbors, children, and grandchildren.

Deciding which families are most in need is a time-consuming and difficult task for the independent panels -- a preliminary committee and an executive committee.

Letters should be sent to:

Larry Alterwitz, president

Walker Furniture

301 S. Martin Luther King Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89106

Letters also can be sent by fax or e-mail, but must arrive at Walker Furniture by Dec. 12. Fax is (702) 384-7672;

e-mail is walkerfurn@ hotmail.com.

Furniture deliveries will begin Dec. 19.

Over the years, Walker Furniture has reached out to the community in numerous ways and "Home for the Holidays" is the company's largest charitable endeavor.

"The Southern Nevada community has been good to Walker Furniture, and we never lose sight of our obligation to give something back," Alterwitz said. "`Home for the Holidays' is one way we do so, and it also serves as a way for the entire staff to extend best wishes for the holiday season to everyone in Southern Nevada. The selection process is very difficult. We only wish we could help everyone in need."

Carmel Hopkins, real estate product manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, can be reached at 380-4574. Her e-mail address is Carmel_Hopkins@ lasvegasnewspapers.com. Snail mail is P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

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