How You Can Help Us

Holidays

It is fast approaching the holiday season and this is when we usually receive many phone calls from people who would like to help out. Here are some ideas:

adopt a family (for Thanksgiving or Christmas)
sponsor a food drive
sponsor a used coat drive
sponsor a hat and glove drive (new only)
How about a sock drive? People can donate new pairs of socks, all different kinds and sizes.
Your class or school can hold a book drive. Donate new and barely used books from your classroom or from Scholastic Book sales
Let your imagination go. Think of items that YOU would like to receive at the holidays. Think of things that many of us take for granted.

If you or your organization is interested in donating food baskets or donating food for the upcoming holidays these are the items to include:

Thanksgiving (by 11/20/09)
turkey
sm. bag of fresh potatoes or 2 boxes mashed potatoes
1 box of stuffing
2 cans of green vegetable (you can include items for green bean casserole)
1 can of french fried onions
2 cans of corn
1 lg. can of yams or sweet potatoes
cranberry sauce
gravy
1 box of biscuit or rolls mix
dessert (can be a fresh pie or ingredients to make their own cookies or pie)

Christmas (by 12/12/09)
Same as above, except;
turkey or ham.
dessert holiday cookie mixes

Extra items you can add to holiday baskets:
coffee/tea
pancake mix/syrup
cereal
bread
eggs
mayonnaisse
pasta
sauce

Suggested gift items for holiday baskets:
food or gas gift cards for families
new socks of all sizes
new hats and gloves (not mittens)
hoodies for girls and boys of all sizes and colors
Bratz dolls or Barbie dolls
legos
board games for all ages
action figures
hair accessories and personal items
books
craft kits and items
bedding items such as fleece blankets, sheets and pillows
slippers
cardigan sweaters for our seniors
(we will have a more detailed list after November 22nd)

General

*individuals, groups or organizations who would like to sponsor households for the holiday season
*We are currently in need of someone to be a liaison to your church, school, workplace, civic or social organization.
*Food collectors from local drop off sites (you should be able to lift heavy bags of groceries)
*Food collector from Foodlink (this requires you to take a 3 hour class from them first)
*People to help us unload and carry in Foodlink orders o­n Tuesday mornings (you must be able to lift heavy boxes)
*Fundraising ex. 5K, open house, raffle, etc.
*Grant writing
*building maintenance. Old building=lots of repairs and updates; can you help? We need people who like to clean and organize!!
*Saturday help from 9:30AM - 11AM (clean and rotate stock, sort food, pack bags and otherwise help as needed)
*We need people who like to solicit donations of school supplies, toiletries, cleaning items, money, gifts for raffles, gifts for the holidays, etc.
* We need people who will help coordinate food drives for their school, church or civic organization
*donations of school supplies for August