Anyone who wants to spread holiday cheer can find plenty of opportunities locally. Drives to help children, the elderly and shelter animals are in full swing with many deadlines quickly approaching.
Angel Tree of Henry County placed 485 angels on Christmas trees at two dozen businesses shortly before Thanksgiving. Each paper angel has the needs and wishes of a child, according to Amanda Johnson, organizer of the gifting program. Angel Tree gifts are due Dec. 11 and can be dropped off Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 219 S. Main in Clinton.
“Every kid deserves Christmas,” Johnson said, adding that reading the applications from those who want to participate can be tough.
“Two years ago when the kids started asking for food – that shouldn’t even be on their list,” she said. Monetary donations help the program provide socks and hygiene items so the items on the paper angels are toys or clothes the children want.
A list of Angel Tree locations and gift-giving guidelines can be found on the program’s website, angeltreehcmo.carrd.co. The website also includes a PayPal link for those who want to provide financial support. Donations can be made at Hawthorn Bank and Oak Star Bank, as well, and gifts are tax-deductible. Questions can be directed to Johnson by calling 660-885-8229.
“Most people would be surprised to know that donations also come from outside Henry County,” she said. “It’s a whole village that does all this.”
The Candy Cane Tree at the Clinton Senior Center makes the holiday a little brighter for homebound older adults, said Kathy Wilson, center director. Gift bags filled with donations began arriving Nov. 29 and will be accepted until Dec. 13.
Each week, volunteers deliver 144 meals to older adults in Clinton, and the Candy Cane Tree’s goal is to provide a gift bag to each meal recipient, she said. The bags include essentials, such as a warm throw blanket, toilet paper, paper towels, a flashlight and light bulbs, plus other items of the giver’s choosing, whether towels, personal care products, puzzle books or other gifts. The gifts need to be gender-neutral, she added.
Wilson said volunteers from Schreiber Foods deliver the meals and the gift bags the week before Christmas. She said the project puts smiles on faces.
“For a lot of folks, this is the only Christmas package they will receive,” she said. She noted that fixed incomes for many of the elderly make people glad to receive the basics the bags hold.
To learn more, stop by the senior center at 970 E. Sedalia Ave. in Clinton or call 660-885-3482.
The Santa Paws project will raise money to help the Clinton Animal Shelter with its expenses. The event takes place on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 203 N. Washington, location of The Dog Groomer. Pets, children and adults are welcome to sit for pictures with Santa Claus. The photo packages range from $10 to $20. Proceeds from the photos and a bake sale to be held that day help the dogs and cats at the animal shelter.
The shelter also has wish lists available online at the Amazon and Chewy websites, not only at Christmas but also throughout the year. Items include dog food, cat food, pet treats, paper towels, bleach and other essentials. Shelter staff requests specific brands of food, and the shelter needs items not found on the wish lists, so donors should check before buying any supplies locally. For more information, call 660-885-7999 or email clintonanimalshelter@yahoo.com.
