There’s nothing like the warm and fuzzy feeling you get from making someone else happy, and that taps into the true meaning of the holiday season. Here are opportunities to help people in need in our area.
The Spotsylvania Department of Social Services is in “desperate need” of sponsors for its Holiday Hope program, said Jackie Brett, volunteer services coordinator. Holiday Hope matches businesses, church and community groups and individuals with needy families. Sponsors can then provide their match family with gifts for the children. To become a sponsor, individuals and groups can download an application at http://ift.tt/2zqmLHx or contact Brett at 540/507-7845 or jackie.brett@dss.virginia.gov.
The Fredericksburg SPCA is partnering with the Spotsylvania DSS to provide pet supplies for needy residents. Donations of pet food, treats and toys will be accepted at the SPCA during business hours, daily from 12 to 6 p.m. except Wednesdays.
Fredericksburg Social Services is asking for donations to Project Manger, which provides portable cribs to families in Planning District 16 (Fredericksburg, along with Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and King George counties) who lack safe sleeping places for their infants. The average cost of a portable crib is $60. Donations will be taken from mid-November through December. Contact Shannon Hartung at shannon.hartung@dss.virginia.gov or 540/372-1032, ext. 247.
The Caroline Resource Council’s Food Committee seeks sponsors for its Senior’s Thanksgiving program, which ensures that area senior citizens and disabled adults get a hot meal on or just before Thanksgiving Day. Those interested in helping can donate money, Food Lion gift cards or a gift basket of non-perishable food items. Donations must be received by Nov. 5. Call 804/633-5071 for more information.
The Caroline Department of Social Services also seeks donors to its Christmas Partners program, which provides gifts to foster children and children whose families receive benefits through DSS. You can donate money to the program or adopt a child to shop for through the month of November. Call 804/633-5071 for more information.
The Fredericksburg Grizzlies, the area’s American Basketball Association team, are partnering with Embrace Treatment Foster Care to “Stuff a Stocking” for children in foster care. The team will collect stocking stuffers at their home games on Nov. 5, 11 and 18 and Dec. 9. Suggested small gifts include matchbox cars, Play-Doh, Legos, art supplies (crayons, markers, and coloring books), hair accessories, lip gloss, socks and hard candy. Two home games will include a 50/50 raffle with proceeds going to purchase gifts for children in foster care. Games are played at Riverbend High School in Spotsylvania. Call 540/613-5120 for more information.
SERVE, an emergency assistance agency in Stafford County, is seeking $10 grocery gift cards to help its clients purchase turkeys and hams for holiday meals. Gift cards for Thanksgiving boxes are needed by Nov. 15 and cards for Christmas boxes are needed by Dec. 13. The organization is also asking for $10 gift cards to Walmart or Target for holiday gifts for teenagers by Dec. 13. Call 540/288-9603 for more information.
Local Boy Scout troops will collect non-perishable food items for their 30th annual Scouting for Food drive. Scouts will deliver plastic bags to area homes on Nov. 4 and return to pick them up Nov. 11. Items in highest demand include canned protein (tuna, salmon, chicken, peanut butter), soups and stews, grains (pasta, whole grain pasta, rice, brown rice, boxed macaroni and cheese), cereals (multi-grain, low-sugar cereals, oatmeal), canned vegetables, canned fruits and hygiene products (diapers, toilet paper, tissues, soap, toothpaste).
Toys for Tots, the Marine Corps Reserve’s holiday toy drive, will run through Dec. 12. To help, donate a new, unwrapped toy at one of many local donation sites. They include Virginia Partners Bank in downtown Fredericksburg, IHOP in Central Park and Purvis Ford and Sheehy Toyota on U.S. 1. For other locations, visit quantico-va.toysfortots.org.
The Salvation Army’s Angel Trees will be set up in most area Giant and Walmart stores, Spotsylvania Towne Center and the Salvation Army Family Store by Nov. 11. Each tree is decorated with Angel Tags listing the first name, gender, clothing sizes and wish-list items for a local child aged 12 and under. Donors are not obligated to purchase everything on the child’s list. New, unwrapped gifts should be returned to Walmart or the Salvation Army offices (2012 Lafayette Blvd.) by Dec. 4, making sure that all gifts are labeled with the Angel Tag number.
The Salvation Army is also collecting food for its Thanksgiving and Christmas meal distributions. All non-perishable food donations are welcomed, but they are particularly in need of traditional holiday foods like stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, canned pumpkin, spices, cooking oil, etc. Food can be dropped off at the Salvation Army Family Store, 2010 Lafayette Blvd. Bring in food donations all month and receive a coupon for the Family Store.
Central Virginia Housing Coalition is conducting its annual Home for the Holidays campaign, which aims to transition people from homelessness to permanent housing in time for the holidays. Make a donation to the campaign at centralvahousing.org.
If you are involved in a holiday donation drive not included in this list, let us know.
