(Editor’s note: This is PART 2 of volunteer and donation opportunities for the holiday season, continued from Saturday’s edition.)
Opportunities to serve Logan County this holiday season are more numerous than we expected!
Here’s a continued list of how you can help all the way through Christmas Day:
December
Santa’s Workshop, Lakeview, will take place Thursday and Friday, Dec. 5 and 6, from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7, from 8 a.m. to noon, in the Young at Heart building, 490 W. Lake Street, Lakeview. They are looking for volunteers and/or monetary donations.
This 501(c)3 organization gives children a chance to buy Christmas presents for family members. Indian Lake Elementary School students will each receive a golden ticket to get four free gifts for others and one for themselves. For more information on how you can help this ministry, contact All Around Accounting at 937-843-3140.
For over 25 years, the Nu Beta Philanthropic Sorority has hosted Breakfast with Santa as a way to raise money for their community. This year’s event is on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 201 N. Main Street in Bellefontaine.
All proceeds will go toward local food pantries. For a suggested donation of $7 per adult and $5 per child at the door, attendees will get a full hot breakfast and photo with Santa Claus. There will also be a large raffle table, gifts and other fun activities.
Ashley Furniture hosts its annual toy drive. The Bellefontaine store is accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys for all ages through Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Noah’s Give Back—Bellefontaine Intermediate School fifth-grader Noah Goble is collecting items for local homeless shelters through Dec. 13. In 2023, Noah donated three full totes and he’s hoping to gather enough necessities to help out two additional shelters this year.
Here’s what he’s looking for: blankets, pillows, twin bedding, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, nail clippers, body wash, soap, towels, washcloths, laundry detergent and clear 10-gallon totes.
If you want to help, contact Noah’s mom, Hannah, at [email protected].
Toys for Tots—New to Logan County for 2024, Toys for Tots looks to provide Christmas gifts to disadvantaged children in our community. This year’s campaign, which started Oct. 1, will continue through Dec. 15. A U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program, collections boxes have been set up in Bellefontaine, Huntsville, Russells Point and Lakeview.
According to organizer Heather Wright, they still need more as collections have been low so far. “We just want people to know we’re here. Also, monetary gifts allow us to buy toys to supplement what’s been donated,” Wright said.
Cash donations are appreciated year-round, but the Logan County coordinator will take care of the final pick up from collection sites for this year’s drive on Dec. 16. You can find out more through Wake Up the World Ministries at 600 E. Brown Street, Bellefontaine, or call 937-592-0717.
Lutheran Community Services (LCS) is again offering its annual Christmas Basket Program. This adopt-a-family opportunity lets you help individuals or families in need in a tangible, holiday-focused way. But they will make the basket deliveries on Dec. 16, so don’t wait to sign up!
When applications closed on Friday, Nov. 15, LCS had 484 families looking for help this Christmas season. Those who want to support the ministry are invited to the thrift store at 820 W. Sandusky Avenue to look through their book of people who’ve requested assistance. You can stop by during open hours, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
“You pick someone out and you can purchase food and gifts or just food or just gifts; it’s up to you,” Evelyn Allen, LCS manager, said. “And we’ll help as much as we can. We will still take care of anyone who doesn’t get adopted.”
If this is something you want to help with, or if you want to donate time to put food boxes together, or you just want to volunteer in any way possible, you can contact Kim Collum, LCS program director, or Evelyn at 937-592-9914.
Peak of Hope Shelter—Brewfontaine will host the 2024 Carols for a Cause, a holiday concert featuring local musician John Whitehead and Friends on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m. Ten percent of sales for the day—dine-in and carryout—will go toward the shelter.
Many Churches, One God Free Christmas Meal—This annual event, which is organized by several West Liberty churches, will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 25, at Liberty Gathering Place, 111 N. Detroit Street.
Organizers will need help preparing, serving and delivering meals. To participate, contact Amy Pratt at 937-776-6904 or email her at [email protected].
In a discussion on Facebook, resident Stephanie Norris said, “This is a wonderful outreach to the community, especially the elderly or those suffering with illness or injury or job loss.”
Goshen Friends Church, 5527 CR 153, Zanesfield, has an Angel Tree. Each angel on the tree has the name of someone you can buy a gift for.