After this week's Lions Club of Woodstock meeting I posted about some of our club's involvement in Christmas causes which need support.
Operation Sharing, for example, is in its 30th year of serving Oxford County.
In today's The Woodstock Sentinel-Review there was a much more encompassing story, including quotes from many of the charitable groups, so I decided to post that story as a follow-up.
Woodstock Christmas programs gearing up to help the needy
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
WOODSTOCK - With a month to go before Christmas, volunteers are busy with efforts to make it a merry one for people who would otherwise go without over the holidays.
Collecting donations of food, gifts and cash, Operation Sharing and The Salvation Army are gearing up to help hundreds of families this Christmas.
The Salvation Army’s Christmas Hamper Program has received 450 applications so far and another 75 requests are anticipated by the end of the month.
“(That’s) about what we usually do,” said Vanessa Page, director of community and family services with the Salvation Army in Woodstock.
So far, donations to the hamper program are also in line with what was received in 2011.
“We had a great Santa Claus Parade (with collecting food donations),” Page said.
Angel Trees
Besides the hamper program, the Salvation Army has placed angel trees at Wal-Mart, Zellers and Canadian Tire. The trees are decorated with children’s Christmas gift wishes, which donors can pick up and make come true.
Anyone who wants to give to an entire family can make arrangements by calling the Salvation Army office.
Gifts for children between 13 and 15 are a problem every year, Page said.
“We really fall short on them,” she said, adding that donations of music and movie gift cards or hygiene and beauty products would help alleviate the shortfall.
When it comes to food donations, canned meat and fish, cereal, cookies, peanut butter and jam, hearty soups and nut-free school snacks are often in short supply.
Contributions to the hamper program can be dropped off at 190 Huron St.
Kettle Drive
The annual Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drive in Woodstock is also up and running, with a goal of collecting $60,000 in donations this year.
Kettles are located at Sobeys, Zehrs, the LCBO, Food Basics, No Frills and Wal-Mart, and besides donating cash, there is an opportunity to help out.
“We’re always in need of volunteers for our kettles,” Page said.
Anyone interested in volunteering with the kettle drive is asked to call the Salvation Army office.
Operation Sharing
Operation Sharing helps make sure everyone has a gift under the tree with The Christmas Place at College Avenue United Church, where invited guests shop for Christmas gifts for their family at affordable rates.
“We support hundreds of people with that program,” said Steve Giuliano, program director and chaplain with Operation Sharing. “It’s quite the event.”
Adults who have an invitation can shop for gifts between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. from Dec. 4 through Dec. 6. A special children’s shopping day will run Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Giuliano said The Christmas Place, which was founded 32 years ago, not only provides gifts for people living in poverty, but also provides dignity because participants get to do their own shopping.
“They have a sense that they’re contributing to their own Christmas,” he said.
Invitations to The Christmas Place are available at social agencies in the city, including the Women’s Resource Centre, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Operation Sharing and every church in Oxford County.
Kathy Gilverson, volunteer co-ordinator of The Christmas Place, said donations have been slow coming in so far, but that’s typical this early on.
“We’ve just started collecting,” she said. “We’re hopeful.”
Nearly 300 families and 248 children did their holiday shopping at The Christmas Place last year, Gilverson said, and the same numbers are expected this year.
New, unwrapped toys and gifts for all ages and cash donations (tax receipts available) for The Christmas Place can be dropped off at College Avenue United Church between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Like The Salvation Army Hamper Program, The Christmas Place ends up in need of gifts for teens and men.
“We are always short (on those),” Gilverson said.
Woodstock Hospital Foundation is helping generate some funds for The Christmas Place this year by hosting a silent auction at the hospital on Tuesday, Nov. 20, and Wednesday, Nov. 21, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
When it comes to the big event, Operation Sharing hosts a Christmas open house at the Church of the Epiphany on Dec. 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“We had over 300 people last year,” said Steve Giuliano. “There’s lots of food, board games, raffles and there’s a gift for every man, woman and child.”
The gathering is open to everyone.
“It’s for anyone who might find themselves alone at Christmas,” Giuliano said. “It doesn’t matter what your socio-economic status is.”
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