Number of holiday requests is growing

COSHOCTON - Each year, when the holiday season rolls around, the volunteers of the Coshocton County Firefighters Association Toy Chest organize an event so area children will have toys under their Christmas trees. Laura Drake, coordinator of the toy drive, said members of the community and area firefighters work together each year to achieve this goal.

Drake is seeing a spike in the need for toys for kids this year. While last year the organization provided gifts for 600 children, the number is expected to top 700 this year. Drake said the unemployment rate in the county is a major factor, and the struggling economy has led to greater need for the past four to five years.

“Our goal is to make sure these children have something to open on Christmas morning,” she said. “There would be families that wouldn’t have toys for their kids without the program.”

Each year, local organizations such as the Toy Chest help to make the holiday season special for people in need. Without local food banks, toy drives and organizations that provide everything from basic needs items to help offset holiday costs to goody baskets for veterans, the holiday season for many area residents would lack the cheer that comes with the generosity and helping hand of others.

Ringing in the giving season

Maj. Steven Pearl of the Salvation Army said there are a lot of people in need in Coshocton County. He expects the need to be similar to the past several years, and sited economic hurdles such as the closing of the local WestRock plant as issues that have affected area families.

“A lot of people are not making enough to support their families. When prices go up, they often are not able to increase their income, and they are hit hard,” Pearl said. He sees the greatest need among senior citizens on fixed incomes, the working poor and those who can only find part-time employment.

“Many people are doing the best they can, but it’s not always enough,” Pearl said. “This time of year, the community is very generous.”

The Salvation Army red kettle bell ringers will be out in full force throughout the season, which is an important annual fundraiser for the organization. Pearl said volunteers are needed to ring the bells, especially during weekdays.

The local Salvation Army is also busy with the Christmas Castle program that provides winter clothing for area children. Through donations generated from the annual drive on WTNS Radio, volunteers take the children shopping at the Coshocton Wal-Mart for items such as coats, gloves, scarves and warm clothes. Last year, volunteers shopped for about 400 children, and Pearl expects the need to be similar this year.

“Kids are always growing out of clothing. The Christmas Castle provides winter clothing for the coldest time of the year,” he said. “It’s a great experience for the volunteers, too.”

Making Christmas brighter for area kids

Other organizations are also working to make sure that kids in the county have a merry Christmas.

Efforts are made to coordinate with other agencies that provide toys like Coshocton County Children Services to ensure that items are distributed fairly to the families who need them, explained Danny Brenneman, assistant director and fiscal officer at Coshocton County Job and Family Services.

There is a “definite and profound need” in the community each year, he said. The Coshocton County Children Services Christmas Project matches organizations and groups to children ages 0 to 18 serviced by the agency to fulfill their wish lists with toys and clothing. Last year, the program assisted around 100 children, and the need is expected to be similar this year.

“We help families that need a hand so the children won’t have to go without for Christmas,” Brenneman said.

Through the efforts of Carol Goff and Associates in Coshocton, Toys for Tots is returning to the community this holiday season. Toys for children of all ages will be accepted at various locations throughout the community, said co-organizer Niza Rodriquez. “We want to make sure every kid has a happy Christmas. We want kids to have smiles on their faces and toys on Christmas morning.”

Fulfilling a wide range of needs

Karen Casey, outreach leader for Make a Difference Coshocton, part of the Upper Room Assembly and Worship Center, doesn’t want anyone to be forgotten during the holiday season.

Hosting a dance for area teens is one way volunteers are making sure that children feel the Christmas spirit this year.

“Just because they are older, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to celebrate and have a good Christmas,” Casey said. The dance is planned for Dec. 19 at the Upper Room Assembly, and donations for gift cards and items to fill stockings for teens who attend the dance are needed.

MAD volunteers are also gathering items for goody baskets for area veterans. Because many are older and their children are grown, veterans are often forgotten during this time of year, Casey said.

Last year was the first year volunteers organized the holiday basket drive, with about 30 delivered to area veterans. This year, the goal has been raised to 50 baskets, Casey said.

“I think that the veterans are a population of people that is often forgotten because when people think of Christmas, they think of kids,” she said. “Everyone that worked on the baskets last year felt extremely blessed. When you take those baskets to the door, some of the veterans even cry.”

The Upper Room Assembly also has plans to sponsor at least one family, possibly more, for Christmas.

When people think of needs during this time of year, toys and food for holiday meals are always at the top of the list. But volunteers in the community are also taking donations to fulfill needs that may not be as obvious.

Caring Essentially for Coshocton accepts donations for items that aren’t covered by food stamps, including household cleaners and personal care items, explained Pastor Philip Hunt of Central Christian Church. He said the organization assisted 80 families in October, and the need rises during the holidays.

The need is also up for First Step Family Violence Intervention Services, where clients at the shelter and those moving into new apartments with nothing require basic items to help them get back on their feet.

Curbing hunger during the holiday season

Organizers of local food pantries are gearing up for increased need this year. Although God’s Eternal Love Fellowship Church in Nellie closed down, said Pastor Mark Granger of New Life Ministries, the pantry at his church, the Salvation Army and the Upper Room Assembly and Worship Center, will be helping struggling families meet hunger needs this holiday season.

“Everything costs more than it did a year ago. The need is great and we do what we can,” Granger said. “We are just trying to alleviate some of that for the holidays.”

Casey said organizers for the Upper Room Assembly pantry, a Mid-Ohio Food Bank distributor, are getting a lot of requests for baby food and formula, because those items are costly and WIC doesn’t always stretch to the end of the month.

Granger said many of the people served by the food pantries are senior citizens and veterans. In October alone, he said, the New Life pantry saw an increase of 23 new families consisting of 87 people in need of items from the pantry. “We are just trying to take care of people,” he said. “It’s a hard time for some people.”

This year, the Salvation Army will be providing gift cards to families in need so they can shop for items for their holiday meals. The pantry is available on an appointment basis to help keep up with the demand, Pearl said. Food for meals and toys for the kids go a long way for making the holidays brighter for people who are struggling, he said.

“The biggest thing about Christmas is family, but to have a nice Christmas meal is a plus. To have toys under the tree is also a great thing for the children.”

Seeking help

Do you need volunteers or items for holiday community projects? Send your information and requests to ctnews@coshoctontribune.com each Monday to be included in future listings.

Food pantries

Food donations, including nonperishable food items and monetary donations, are being accepted at three county food pantries. For more information, call the Salvation Army at 740-622-0971, New Life Ministries at 740-622-2181 or the Upper Room Assembly and Worship Center at 740-610-0082.

Salvation Army

Christmas Castle Project: Monetary donations to purchase winter clothes for area children in need will be taken through the annual campaign drive on WTNS Radio. Volunteers are needed to shop with children from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 7- 8 at the Coshocton Wal-Mart. People who are interested should call the Salvation Army at 740-622-0971.

Red Kettles: Volunteers are needed to ring bells and collect funds for the annual donation drive. There is a major need for bell rings who are available Monday through Friday days and evenings. People who are interested can call the Salvation Army at 740-622-0971. Red Kettles for donation will be at Wal-Mart, Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Rural King, Baker’s IGA, Woodbury Outfitters, Big Lots, Walgreens and Dollar General in West Lafayette.

Coshocton County Firefighters Association Toy Chest

Toys are needed for newborns to 15-year-olds and can be dropped off at the Coshocton City Fire Department, Walhonding Valley Fire District, Dollar General in Warsaw and Coshocton, Rural King and Dairy Queen. Items can be dropped off anytime at the Coshocton fire station or 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the Walhonding Valley fire station in Warsaw. Deadline is Dec. 19, but toys will be taken through the end of December. Monetary donations can be dropped off at the Coshocton Fire Department or mailed to P.O. Box 133, Coshocton.

Coshocton County Children Services Christmas Project

Organizations and groups shop for a child served by the agency. The child’s name, age and wish list will be provided. Items must be returned to the staff by Dec. 15 but will be taken later if needed. To sign up to shop for a child, call Tom Clark at 740-295-750.

Toys for Tots

Toys are being collected for boys and girls from newborn to age 18 and can be dropped off at Sears Hometown Store, Buehler’s, Peoples Bank, Carol Goff and Associates, Home Loan Savings Bank and Shelby Theatres. Monetary donations are also being accepted. For information call Niza Rodriquez at 614-365-1455 or Sheila Shingleton at 740-610-5032.

Caring Essentially for Coshocton

Donations are being accepted for personal care items, paper products, household cleaning items, towels, washcloths, dish towels and baby wipes and washes. Items will be available for local families from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, at Central Christian Church at 731 Main St. For information on how to donate or receive help, call 740-622-2208. Cash donations can be mailed to Central Christian Church.

First Step Family Violence Intervention Services

The agency needs items for use at the shelter and for clients who are transitioning to their own apartments. Needed items include paper towels, tissues, diapers, pots, pans, small appliances, bath towels, washcloths, dish towels, laundry basketsm art supplies for children and hair styling products and tools including curling irons and hair dryers. Donated items help those who are victims of domestic violence. Items can be dropped off at the office at 604 Walnut St. For more information, call 740-622-8504.

Make a Difference Coshocton

The Upper room Assembly and Worship Center’s MAD Group, (Make A Difference), will be accepting donation for veterans fruit and candy baskets until Dec. 16. Volunteers will be delivering baskets to Veterans on Saturday, Dec. 19th. Anyone who would like to donate fresh fruit, candy, cookies, breads, or other items, or provide the name of a veteran can contact Karen Casey at 740-202-1024 or Heather Walker at 740-502-6721. Delivery will be provided within city limits this year, and the goal is to deliver 50 baskets. Donation of snack items, candy, stocking stuffers and gift certificates will also be accepted for the teen Christmas party that will be held on Dec. 19 at the Upper Room Assembly and Worship Center.

The Upper Room Assembly will also be sponsoring a family or possibly more than one family for Christmas. If you would like to purchase a gift for an adult of child in this family please contact Nichole Braxton at 740-610-0082.