The City of Bainbridge and its Mayor Edward Reynolds have done its part to make the holiday season special for students of Georgia Pines Center serving persons with developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs.

For 59 years, cities across Georgia have brought the joy of the holiday season to patients at Georgia’s regional behavioral health hospitals through the Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade.

The program, begun by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) in cooperation with Governor Ernest Vandiver and his wife Betty Vandiver, relies on citizen participation in each city to donate gifts for the patients, many of who would not receive gifts or be recognized without the Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade. According to hospital staff, many of the patients at these hospitals have little, if any, support or contact with friends and family.

A delicious lunch and even a visit by Santa with treat bags was provided to Georgia Pines students on December 12 by Mayor Reynolds and the City of Bainbridge. For more information on how groups can participate, please call Allie Godwin at 229-400-9313.

Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and technical consulting services to its 521 member cities.