There's still time to donate, help others
By the time you pick up the paper and read this, there's a good chance your early morning Black Friday experience is over.
If you're like me, you stayed as far away from the crowds as you could. There were some great buys, but I'll take my chances closer to Christmas.
Lining up like the marathon at the Olympics and then running into the store -- with elbows flying -- isn't my idea of fun.
Then again, running a marathon would be impossible at my age and weight!
Instead of worrying about what to buy someone for Christmas this weekend, take a minute or two to figure out a way you can help Greene County's Clothe-a-Child and Toys for Tots Project.
Organizers recently completed its screening of applications for Christmas assistance, and is committed to meet the substantial increase in need this year.
In 2008, more than 270 families -- including 540 children -- received clothing and/or toys from the project. Letters have been mailed notifying more than 290 families all over the county that 590 children ages 12 and under will be served this year.
The increase of children served this year means a large increase in support needed from the community. Individuals can contribute by donating toys and coats, donating directly at the bell-ringing stations, or mailing contributions to Greene County Clothe-a-Child, P.O. Box 516, Linton, Ind., 47441.
What a great idea. Instead of fighting the crowds this weekend, take the money you would have spent on a gift or two, dinner out, and gas to get there and donate it to the local program.
Putting a smile on the face of a couple of children is worth more than anything you would buy this weekend.
If the desire to shop is just too great, then while you're out, buy something to donate to the local program.
Boxes displaying the Greene County Clothe-a-Child/Toys for Tots Santa logo are set up to collect donations of new, unwrapped toys. Locations where they can be found include:
* Linton -- Sears, Dollar General Store, Pizza Hut, Regions Banks, and MainSource Banks.
* Bloomfield -- Pamida, Dollar General Store, Bloomfield State Bank, and Monroe Primary Care.
Used children's coats that are in good condition can be taken prior to Dec. 4 to Mercury Cleaners in either Linton or Bloomfield, where they will be cleaned to be distributed on the clothes-shopping nights.
Bell-ringing stations displaying the project's Santa logo are set up to collect donations on weekends between now and Christmas. Bell-ringers will be located in Linton at Angell's Food Center, Wal-Mart, and Sav-a-Lot, in Bloomfield at the IGA, and in downtown Jasonville as volunteers are available.
Families receiving clothing vouchers will shop at Wal-Mart on Dec. 8 or Dec. 9. Toys will be distributed at community dinners on two days: Dec. 17 between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Saron Church in Linton for those families in the western areas of the county and Dec. 19 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the First Methodist Church in Bloomfield for those families in the eastern areas of the county.
The community dinners will provide turkey and all the trimmings, and are open to anyone. The meal at Saron will be provided by the Linton Rotary Club, and the one at First Methodist Church by the group of churches sponsoring "Soup on Saturday" in Bloomfield.
The program will accept donations from businesses and their employees.
Karen Strueh, one of the organizers of the program, recently accepted a $5,000 donation from employees of Utilities District of Western Indiana REMC.
The 2009 sponsors for the Greene County Clothe-a-Child and Toys for Tots Project are Linton Civitan Club, Ladies Civitan Club, Linton Rotary Club, Bloomfield Rotary Club, and Bloomfield Psi Iota Xi.
Chris is the general manager/editor for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at 847-4487 or 1-800-947-4487 or by e-mail at cpruett79@hotmail.com .
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