While many of our friends and neighbors struggle financially every day, there are many charities that work hard to help people in need. Here’s a list of local nonprofits that have additional needs for the holidays.
Never Alone
The nonprofit is collecting frozen turkeys through Nov. 15 to help meet the goal of providing 100 families in need with a turkey and food box. Take donations to 291 Rope Mill Rd. in Woodstock 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Never Alone helps Cherokee County families in need by providing food, milk, personal hygiene care products and clothing.
“We are dedicated to positively impacting individual, family and community physical and emotional needs” – founder Lamar Green.
Toys for Tots
Cherokee County’s resident Santa, Tim Cavender, has organized a March of the Toys Parade for Toys for Tots, set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 in Ball Ground. Cavender is asking parade-goers to bring new, unwrapped toys that will be given to Toys for Tots. If you can’t come to the parade, drop off toy donations at any of Cherokee County’s fire stations. “I want to be sure that every child has a toy for Christmas,” said Cavender, who is celebrating his 40th year of portraying Santa in Cherokee County.
Toys for Tots was founded in 1947 and is run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. www.toysfortots.org
Secret Santa
The Secret Santa Program at Cherokee County Department of Family & Children’s Services needs gift sponsors for more than 200 children in foster care this year. Cash donations to the year-round Secret Santa fund also are appreciated. To help with the program, call (678) 427-9393. www.cherokeesanta.com
Feed My Lambs
The nonprofit, which operates a free Christian preschool in Canton, as well as Cobb and Fulton counties, will hold a Happy Birthday Jesus party for Cherokee students 6-8 p.m. Dec. 15 at the G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA. Organizers need volunteers to help with the party, and toy donations (stuffed bears, balls and books, especially for ages 9-12. To organize a toy delivery or sign up, call (770) 795-9349 and ask for Casey.
The Feed My Lambs mission is to partner with local businesses, communities and area churches to open Christian schools in economically impoverished areas to empower at-risk children spiritually, academically, physically and socially, and to improve families and communities. Happy Birthday Jesus parties have served more than 100,000 children and family members. www.feedmylambs.net
MUST Ministries
MUST officials are collecting food to serve 1,000 families this year. Items needed to fill Thanksgiving baskets include cans of corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, and sweet potatoes, boxes of mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese cornbread mix, and stuffing, and jars of gravy or packages of gravy mix. Frozen pies and turkeys also are needed.
Non-perishables can be dropped off 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 11-15 at New Life Church, 154 Lakeside Dr., Canton. Frozen turkeys and pies can be dropped off 8-9 a.m. Nov. 25-27 at MUST’s Canton office at 111 Brown Industrial Pkwy. Extra volunteers will be needed for the holiday. To serve, contact Jarrod Cochran at (770) 721-2927 or jcochran(at)mustministries.org. www.mustministries.org
Forever Fed
The mobile feeding ministry is collecting gently used clean coats and children’s winter clothing to be away during weekly events. New socks are being collected for year-round distribution, as well as non-perishable foods for Forever Fed’s backpack grocery program and other events. For drop-off locations, email info(at)foreverfed.org or call (678) 883-3314.
Forever Fed brings meals to families across Cherokee County who need extra help with food and groceries. Most days of the month are filled with regular deliveries, including the second Saturday at Scott Mill Chapel in Canton and the third Saturday at Canton’s St. Paul AME, where volunteers host a block parties. www.foreverfed.org
Papa’s Pantry
The food ministry needs funds to purchase meat, milk and produce for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Turkeys, hams, and produce donations also are accepted. A special holiday food giveaway for families in need is scheduled for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec 19-20. Gift-giving opportunities also are available through the Papa Noel program.
Papa’s Pantry works with families in need to help them gain, or regain, financial stability. To schedule a tour, volunteer, or donate, visit the website, or call (770) 591-4730. Donations can be mailed to Papa’s Pantry, 6551 Commerce Parkway, Suite 200, Woodstock, GA 30189. www.papaspantry.org
Kids Bible Clubs
The weekly ministry to children needs toy donations for the 14th annual Happy Birthday Jesus Party, set for 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at Bascomb United Methodist Church, 2295 Bascomb Carmel Rd., Woodstock. More than 500 at-risk children and their families from Cherokee, Bartow and Cobb counties are invited. Each child will get a Christmas gift and a piece of birthday cake. To help with the party or donate toys, email kidsbibleclubs(at)bellsouth.net or call (678) 571-8409. http://kidsbibleclubs.org
HOPE Center
The pregnancy diagnosis and support center is asking for donations of new toys for the Christmas toy closet. Bring donations, accepted through Dec. 15, to The Baby & More Thrift Store, 295 Molly Ln., Woodstock. (770) 517-4450. www.babyandmorethriftstore.com or www.hopectr.com.
Goshen Valley Boys Ranch
The Waleska boys ranch, which serves approximately 34 young men in the state foster system, needs fift cards for last minute gifts, donations of non-perishable food items and paper products are welcome, as well as wrapping paper, tape, scissors and gift tags. Goshen is holding an open house 3-5 p.m. Dec. 7 for community members to tour the 300-acre cattle ranch that features six residences. For details, call (770) 796-4618 or email info (at)goshenvalley.org. www.goshenvalley.org
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
How do I sign up to get help for Christmas for my girls
My name is Donna Anderson. I’m not asking for myself but b for my daughter. She is married to a wonderful man who works everyday and he has 2 small children when they meet. Now they have my other daughters 2 sons helping raising them till her sister gets right. They never complain they love therm and I’m disabled but live 4 minutes apart from them. It’s a letting and there to proud to ask so I’m asking for them. So all together there would be 5 my sister who’s disabled had raised her granddaughter until last year when her mother came home. She is in hospice now I was just wandering if there’s a few gifts for then. There’s a 8yr. Old girl a 11 yr. Old girl a9 yr. A3yr. And a8 TT. Old boy. I thank you for anything you might can help with.
Good Bless
Donna Anderson my number is 678 493 0634
My name is crissy and I’m in need of help with Christmas for my three children this please call me Godbless 4702744866
Blessings to you in Jesus,
I am Naila Noreen from Pakistan. I am from a very poor family. We live in a small village of khanewal. Due to which we have to face many kinds of difficulties to survive. Anyhow, I completed my studies and then I was married. But due to being a member of a poor family I was married to a man at our same level. because rich people search for rich boys and girls. My husband’s salary is very low, which is not enough for me and my children. We face many difficulties such as paying house rent and utility bills and school fees and food and clothes for our little children. I have 3 Children they are small. We are now at the Stage of Curse of loan. I request you to please open your hands for my family support for the sake of god. Your little support is a very huge act of kindness for my children’s food.
In Jesus
Him my name is summer I was try.to find help with christmas this year 2021 I have 2 boy Amy help pls email jone.summer2010@gmail.com thank u
I have two boys needing little help this year with Christmas