Donations sought for annual Christmas Store

There still may be 67 days left until Christmas, but volunteers with the Jackson County Christmas Store are already preparing to make the holiday season a bit brighter for those in need.

Gifts and other items are now being sought for the annual event, which serves low-income children and families, as well as senior citizens and disabled adults in the county.

In 2015, the Christmas Store received a total of 231 applications for assistance and served 578 people. Each individual or family receives free gifts, food and other essential items, as well as food for pets.

This year’s event will be held on Friday, Dec. 16, at a new location, the First Baptist Church of Holton, 404 Juniper Dr. 

Applications to be considered for the Christmas Store are now available and must be completed by Wednesday, Nov. 30. 

Applications can be picked up at First Baptist Church, Giant Communications, 418 W. Fifth St. in Holton, and the Holton Post Office. 

Those applying for assistance must also include proof of income eligibility, including Food Stamp verification (Vision card), current WIC receipt or current free/reduced lunch form.   

Residents can also apply online at www.jacochristmasstore.org. Those who qualify for the store will be notified no later than Dec. 10. 

Gifts for boys and girls, from newborn to age 18 are needed. Suggested new gifts include toys, games, sports items, craft kids, make-up and hair items. More suggestions are listed at the Christmas Store website. 

Donations can be delivered to Giant Communications and the Holton Post Office during regular business hours. 

A variety of holiday-themed foods are also being sought for the event and include turkey gravy packets, plain instant mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, regular and sugar-free syrup, canned yams, pancake mix, green beans, French fried onions, cream of mushroom soup, boxed stuffing, boxed whip topping and cookie or brownie mixes.

Bags of household essential items are being given to each qualified applicant who participates in the Christmas Store. Volunteers are seeking 250 canvas or fabric bags with handles filled with items by the end of November. 

Items include laundry soap and dryer sheets, shampoo and conditioner, bath soap, dish soap, deodorant, razors, liquid hand soap, four-pack of toilet paper, Kleenex, multiple toothbrushes and toothpaste and a kitchen dishcloth and towel. 

Fully packed bags with items are desired, but donations of any of the items, as well as empty bags, are also welcome, it was reported.

Volunteers are asking groups to pledge a specific number of filled bags to donate in order to track how many bags are being put together. For more information, contact Terri Robbins at 785-364-0680. Individual donors can drop off their bags at Lifetime Eye Care, located on the south side of the Holton Square.

Used bicycles for both children and adults are also being collected during business hours at the Jackson County Recycling Center, located on the east side of Holton, until Dec. 1. 

The bicycles will be refurbished by inmates at the Lansing Correctional Facility and then redistributed at the Christmas Store, it was reported. 

More than 100 volunteers are needed to help set up the Christmas Store, to serve as personal shoppers, to wrap gifts and to clean up after the event. 

Volunteers are asked to sign up online at www.jacochristmasstore.org/volunteer or by contacting Jennifer Godfrey at 785-224-3608 or Jennifer Ingels at 785-851-7006.

Monetary donations can be mailed to Jackson County Christmas Store, P.O. Box 342, Holton, KS 66436 or dropped off at Giant Communications or the Holton Post Office. 

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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