Hinesville spread the holiday spirit beyond city limits Wednesday, as city employees loaded five vehicles with bags full of gifts for mental health patients at Georgia Regional Hospital, part of the Georgia Municipal Association’s Mayors’ Motorcade in Savannah.
Hinesville was able to contribute nearly $3,000 worth of clothes, toys and holiday treats to the cause from the sponsorships and donations from its September fundraiser.  
The city has only been participating since 2002, but this Christmas marked the 50th anniversary for the GMA initiative to bring some Christmas cheer to those spending the holidays in the hospital.
“We don’t have all the medical services that we should have in the country, and this is a good effort toward resolving some of that,” Mayor Jim Thomas said at September’s Cycles for Charity.