The Holiday Season is rapidly approaching.  We know that many in our community have been affected by job layoffs or a reduction in work hours, which will make this holiday season particularly challenging.

Family Connection’s Hunger Prevention Coalition will do what it can to help families this season.  If you have not already identified a way to give back this Thanksgiving or Christmas, we encourage you to get involved in one of following efforts sponsored by partners in the Decatur County Family Connection Collaborative:

Park Avenue Bank Pam Jones, Marilyn Toliver, Joy Godwin and Scott Ewing

¨     Food Drives to benefit Hunger Prevention’s TLC Food Pantry & the Backpack Program: You can drop off food at Care Chiropractic Center, Curves, Bainbridge College, Park Avenue Bank and Headquarters.  If you want food to be picked up, please call Ami Mejia at 220-1901.

Thanksgiving dinner, what could be better!

¨     Community Thanksgiving: Hot meals are taken to local Senior Citizens (shut-ins) and families in need on Thanksgiving Day.  Contact Dana Bryant at dbryant@dcboe.com to volunteer.

¨     Neighborhood Service Center Thanksgiving Baskets:  You can drop off food at the Neighborhood Service Center at King West Apartments so that they can prepare food baskets which they provide to local families in need.  Contact Michelle Barwick at 246-3119.

Secret Santa made Christmas possible for these kids.

¨     Adopt a Family for Christmas:  Families have been identified as being in need of food, toys, clothes, and household items. You can adopt an entire family, one child, or a particular item that you want to contribute.  For more information, contact me at bainbridgechristmasconnection@yahoo.com or Ami Mejia at 220-1901.

¨     Secret Santa:  Boxes will be placed at various locations around town for new toys to be donated or you can drop off items at Live 101.9.  In addition to the toys, Live 101.9 tries to give each family fruit, a Bible and a storybook.  For more information, contact Chris Ingram at Live 101.9 at 246-7776.
 

 We also realize that individual groups often help families they have identified.  One of the goals of Hunger Prevention Coalition has been to coordinate our efforts during the holiday season to maximize the number of people who are helped and reduce duplication.  If your group is adopting a family or individual this holiday season, we encourage you to let us know this so that we can make sure our partners are not also helping that individual or family.  We know with so many families in need it is important for us to spread out our resources as much as possible.

If you have any questions about these opportunities listed above, please do not hesitate to contact us.  I can be reached at 400-7559 or arharrell@dcboe.com.  Family Connection Coordinator Ami Mejia can be reached at 243-6451 office, 220-1901 cell, or amejia@bainbridge.edu.