ROTARY, SERTOMA CHRISTMAS DRIVE
The Jacksonville Rotary and Sertoma clubs have kicked off their annual Civics for Kids as a Christmas drive to ensure Jacksonville elementary students have a happy holiday.
The civic groups are seeking monetary donations to pay for the gifts through Thursday. To make a contribution, call Ron McDaniel at 501-590-0183.
Students in pre-K through fifth-grade who attend Homer Adkins, Dupree, Tolleson, Taylor, Bayou Meto, Pinewood, Lighthouse Charter School and the Arkansas School for the Deaf will be given Christmas presents from the clubs.
“Gifts will be distributed by school counselors and staff to the families in need who otherwise might not have much of a Christmas,” according to the announcement.
The public is invited to attend the Sertoma Club’s weekly meetings at noon Wednesdays at Southern Oaks Country Club.
CABOT CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS NEED TOY DONATIONS
Organizers of the Cabot School District’s Christmas for Kids toy drive are asking the public to donate new toys or make monetary donations to help buy new toys so that local kids can have a happy Christmas. The program will accept donations through Dec. 17.
There are boxes at all Cabot public schools to drop off toys. Toys can also be dropped off at Centennial Bank, Fred’s, Dixie Café and Dollar General in Cabot and Ward.
To sponsor a family or to bring a family in need to the attention of Christmas for Kids, call Terena Woodruff at 501-843-3363, ext. 1029.
Checks can be mailed to Christmas for Kids, care of Bill Holden, 100 Gunsmoke Drive, Austin, Ark. 72007.
Families who need assistance this year with food or toys, are asked to visit goo.gl/PCw8k1. Recipients must live in the Cabot School District area to be eligible.
To arrange for donated toys to be picked up, call Bill Holden or Rita Stewart at 501-743-3560.
Toys may also be brought to any elementary school in the Cabot Public School District today through Dec. 19 or leave a message for Shelley Montoya at 501-286-8912.
LONOKE COUNTY CHRISTMAS COALITION UNDERWAY
The Lonoke County Christmas Coalition is collecting monetary donations to provide toys and food for 98 families in need with about 350 children.
The group asks checks be sent to Lonoke County Christmas Coalition, P.O. Box 534, Lonoke, Ark. 72086 or hand delivered to Debbie Atkins at the Lonoke Banking Center.
“Even though it is November, we have to begin now to make sure that all of the children are taken care of when December arrives. As in the past, we will have our red and green ‘angel cards’ on the trees in area merchant locations with some of their Christmas wishes. We also depend on donations to help the coalition take care of the child-ren that remain on the trees,” according to the announcement.
To sponsor a child, call Atkins at 501-676-5400 or Beth Wright at 501-676-3106 or Michelle Knox at 501-676-3113, ext. 109.
CHRISTMAS PARTY AT GALLOWAY PARK ON SUNDAY
Mission Jacksonville Community Outreach will hold a Christmas celebration in Galloway Park from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Saturday. Children can get free haircuts, and free canned goods will be distributed.
JACKSONVILLE VFW CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR CHILDREN
Jacksonville VFW Post 4548, 674 Old Hwy. 67, will hold a Christmas party for children from 11 a.m. till 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. There will be food, games, crafts and a visit from Santa.
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC RETIRED EMPLOYEES CHRISTMAS PARTY
Retired employees of Franklin Electric will hold their annual Christmas party at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4 at Barnhill’s Steaks and Buffet, 500 Gregory St. in Jacksonville.
OUTREACH GROUP AT LEGION POST
The Housing, Educational, Learning Program, a Cabot-area homeless-outreach group known as HELP, will meet at 10 a.m. today at the American Legion Post, 114 N. First St. in Cabot.
For more information, call Allen Miller at 501-203-5715.
The ham-radio club STARS will hold classes by Steve Moore with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. Dec. 16, Jan. 20 and Feb. 17. Anyone can attend. They’ll be held at the American Legion Post 71.
STARS Club will hold its Christmas party at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 at El Paso Community Center. Guests are asked to bring side dishes. There will be a raffle for 4 DMR radios.
For more information about the programs, email Gordon Miller at gmiller266@gmail.com.
The ham-radio club is part of the Criswell Robinson American Legion Post 71 in Cabot, which will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. A meal will be served at 6 p.m. before the meeting.
For more information, call 501-203-5715.
20TH ANNUAL SANTA SHACK AT CABOT WALMART
The 20th annual Santa Shack at Walmart in Cabot is open now through Dec. 23. Its hours are 6-8 p.m. Fridays; 9-11 a.m., noon-2 p.m., 3-5 p.m., 6-8 p.m. Saturdays; noon-2 p.m., 3-5 p.m. Sundays; 1-3 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday from Dec. 19-Dec. 23.
Kids can have their pictures taken with Santa, get a candy cane and tell him what they want for Christmas.
CABOT CIVITAN MEETS ON FIRST, THIRD MONDAYS
Cabot Civitan meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month at First Security Bank in downtown Cabot. The Civitan Club helps physically and mentally challenged people with various needs. For more information, call Peggy Doyle 501-454-8724.
CHRISTMAS DINNER DEC. 23 AT WORSHIP CENTER
The Word of Life Worship Center in Jacksonville will hold a free community Christmas dinner from noon till 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23. Dine-in and carry-out service will be available.
The church is at 607 N. First St.
