This is the time of year when area charities do their best work but are also in most need of help from the community, two local leaders told a civic group Tuesday.
“We are busy,” said Neighbor to Neighbor Executive Director Charlotte England. “This is the time of year when they come out of the woodwork and I am busy buying Christmas toys.”
England and Salvation Army Capt. David Robinson addressed the Pine Bluff Rotary Club, telling club members about their Christmas programs and needs this time of year.
Club President Glenda Dean presented each with a $1,000 check. Rotary Club members had previously volunteered as bell ringers for the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign, resulting in about $500 in donations and volunteer time.
Neighbor to Neighbor
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Neighbor to Neighbor has programs to provide children with presents and families with a holiday meal, in addition to their year-round programs to assist families with utility bills, food and clothing.
Three hundred children singed up for the toy program. Each will get four toys. Neighbor to Neighbor’s thrift shop has been temporarily converted into a Christmas Shop. On Dec. 13-15, parents will come and select presents from the upper-, medium- and lower-price-range categories.
“They pick from what I have bought what they want to give their children, and that gives them some ownership in what their child’s receiving,” England said.
Each child ends up getting about $50 in presents, and England encourages members of the public to consider “sponsoring” a child for that price.
“We should think about it all year, but at Christmas especially the thought of a child going to bed Christmas Eve and waking up and there’s nothing under the tree or nothing on the table — that’s really devastating,” England said.
The Christmas dinners will also be distributed from Dec. 13-15. England said the program’s goal, depending on the amount of money raised, will be to provide each participating family with a turkey with each food package.
For more information, call Neighbor to Neighbor at 534-2883 or visit 1419 Pine St.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is running its holiday Angel Tree program, its Red Kettle Campaign fundraiser is in full swing and holiday meal packages will also be provided to families who request help, in addition to their regular programs to provide meals and other types of assistance.
The Angel Tree program has 628 participating children and senior citizens, Robinson said. Residents can “adopt” a child or senior citizen from the trees, which are located in area businesses across town and through an online partnership with J.C. Penney, and fulfill their holiday present wish list.
The last day to pick someone from the Angel Tree is Dec. 16. Presents will be delivered on Dec. 22.
Robinson said the Kettle Campaign is going well, with the total so far at about $975 less than the same day last year. The local Salvation Army brought in $79,000 during the campaign last year and hope to make $80,000 this year. It’s an ambitious goal, Robinson said.
“God knows our needs, and we have faith he’s going to fulfill those needs,” Robinson said.
Robinson said that volunteer bell ringers are still needed for the last week before Christmas.
For more information, call the Salvation Army at 534-0504 or visit 501 E. 12th Ave.