Many Christmas charity drives have begun with the holidays just a few weeks away.
These are great opportunities to help see that children have Christmas gifts, elderly veterans are cared for and that the hungry are fed.
The Beebe Kiwanis Club is holding a pancake breakfast with Santa from 8 till 10 a.m. today in the new Beebe High School 9-10 cafeteria behind the arena as a fundraiser for the Badger Food Pantry, the Angel Tree program, college scholarships and more. Tickets are $5, and kids 3 and under eat free.
The Cabot Christmas for Kids toy drive, which for years has ensured kids in need have a happy Christmas, will accept donations of new toys or monetary donations through Dec. 17 to help buy new toys for youngsters who live in the Cabot School District.
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.
Checks can be mailed to Christmas for Kids, c/o Bill Holden, 100 Gunsmoke Drive, Austin, Ark. 72007.
Checks and toys may also be delivered to the Cabot Schools Warehouse, 310 G.P. Murrell Drive in Cabot, in the Industrial Park off Hwy. 367 toward Austin.
To sponsor a family, call Terena Woodruff at 501-843-3363, ext. 1029. Families who need assistance this year with food or toys, should visit goo.gl/SvwcGF. Recipients must live in the Cabot School District 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. 16 or leave a message for Shelley Montoya at 501-286-8912.
Another longtime collection drive, the Jacksonville Museum of Military History and the Major Jacob Gray Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, have begun their annual collection drive for elderly patients living in the Community Living Center units at Fort Roots VA Hospital.
The deadline to donate is Dec. 30.
See page 4 for a complete list of items requested, which includes new clothing, sneakers, flip-flops, house shoes, toiletries and much more.
Monetary donations are also needed. Checks can be made out to CVAHS Voluntary Services and designate Community Living Center Donation in the memo line. Volunteers are also needed at Fort Roots. For a list of opportunities, call its Voluntary Services Office at 501-257-3288.
People are asked to bring donated supplies to the museum at 100 Veterans Circle. Call 501-241-1943 for more information.
For those in need of a meal and camaraderie, Word of Life Worship Center in Jacksonville will hold a free community Christmas dinner from noon until 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The church is at 607 N. First St., Suite 4 inside Stonewall Square shopping center.
People may eat at the church or carry out their meals. Delivery will be available to elderly residents in Jacksonville by calling 501-708-5843. For more information, call Alcorn at 501-708-5843.
Let us know about your community’s charitable activities, and we’ll help get the word out.
Happy holidays!
