Help feed the hungry

Christmas is a time filled with parties and food (or if you're like the Grinch, feasts). Still, many people will be unable to participate in these activities because they are homeless or financially strapped this holiday season. There are many volunteer opportunities to help donate either food or time to help feed some hungry people.
Here's a list of agencies looking for volunteers:
-The Red Cross needs volunteers to help sort and stuff disaster relief kits (Dec. 15, Dec. 16)
-The Salvation Army is looking for volunteer bell ringers to help raise funds for the homeless
-Pour, Inc. needs volunteers to help with its 1st Annual Food Pantry (Dec. 16)
-A Bigger Vision of Athens is looking for volunteers to prepare and serve meals at the winter shelter (weeks of Christmas and New Years)
-Athens Urban Ministries will provide a Christmas Eve meal, call (706) 353-6647 (Dec. 24)
-Action, Inc. will provide food assistence for those in need, Monday-Friday (call (706) 549-9827)

Agencies collecting donations:
-Peace Place, Inc. (canned food)
-Alps Road Elementary (through Dec. 14)
-Athens Area Emergency Food Bank
-Food Bank of Northeast Georgia

Other food-related volunteer opportunities:
- Natural Resources needs people to be servers, photographers and organize crafts at its Breakfast with Santa (Dec. 19)


For more about these and other volunteer opportunities check out the calendar at http://www.handsonnortheastgeorgia.org/ or this week's Blueprint in the Athens Banner-Herald http://onlineathens.com/stories/120709/blu_532783358.shtml.

Give a toy to a child this holiday season

As the holiday season approaches, holiday wish lists begin appearing on refrigerators. Yet, many parents will be unable to provide toys for their children this holiday season. Want to be a Santa to many deserving kids? Here's a list of organizations collecting toys this holiday season:
-Barrow County Holiday Connection.
-Peace Place Inc. (stocking stuffers)
-Alps Road Elementary (through Dec. 14)
-Be a Santa to a Senior Program. Drop stations at Home Instead, Athens Community Council on Aging, Hodgson's Pharmacy, Walmart (Oconee) and Georgia Square Mall.
-Bigger Vision of Athens (stocking stuffers). Drop station at 415 N. Lumpkin St.
-BikeAthens (bicycles). Drop station at Bike Athens Bike Recycling Shop in the Chase Street Warehouses on Tracy Street.
-Sparrow's Nest Mission Church
-Elbert County Head Start (through Dec. 17)
-Jackson County Family Connection. Drop station at Jackson Creative, 106 Industrial Parkway in Commerce.

Want to help with the distribution of toys? Here are agencies looking for help:
-BikeAthens is looking for people to help refurbish bicycles that will be distributed to various children's agencies and schools. No mechanical experience necessary! (Dec. 2, Dec. 6-7, Dec. 9, Dec. 13)
-Sparrow's Nest needs help distributing toys to homeless families. (Dec. 3-5)
-Jackson County Holiday Store invites volunteers to come help set up and distribute toys to families. (Dec. 8-10)
-Athens Council on Aging is looking for gift wrappers to help wrap gifts for seniors. (Dec. 10)
-Barrow County Holiday Store is looking for volunteers to assist families shopping for toys. (Dec. 15-17)
-The Salvation Army wants volunteers to help distribute toys and food to families at their toy distribution. (Dec. 17)



For more about these and other volunteer opportunities check out the calendar at http://www.handsonnortheastgeorgia.org/ or this week's Blueprint in the Athens Banner-Herald http://onlineathens.com/stories/113009/liv_530254416.shtml.

A Time to Give

The holidays are a time for family, friends, and fun. Most importantly they are a time to give to others. I had the opportunity to do just that yesterday December 18, at the Salvation Army Distribution Center. With the help of HandsOn, the Salvation Army recruited volunteers to help sort and distribute food and toys to needy families. Volunteers helped in many ways including loading up food boxes and turkeys into carts, finding toy bags for the families, and helping them get everything to their cars. It was a great time to celebrate what the holidays are all about. The families were very appreciative of everyone that was helping out and giving their time. I had the opportunity to talk to them as I was helping them cart everything to their car and they were all in high spirits, regardless of their circumstance. Overall, it was a great time and I had a lot of fun!