WINNEMUCCA - Many local businesses and organizations are getting into the holiday giving spirit by organizing programs and events to collect gifts, clothing, money and food for less fortunate individuals and families this time of year.
Community members who wish to give back during this season have a wide variety of options to choose from and each is sure to make someone's holiday a little more special.
Humboldt Printers and Humboldt General Hospital have teamed up to sponsor the Abundant Tree Gift Giving Program for foster children of Humboldt County. This year, the tree is located at Humboldt Printers and offers a variety of ornament tags with information specific to each foster child.
Gift givers who wish to select a tag are asked to leave their name and contact information when picking up a tag and drop gifts off at Humboldt Printers (405 W. Fourth Street) no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9. Humboldt Printers and HGH ask that gifts are dropped off unwrapped, but with tags attached.
Newmont will once again be supporting the Winnemucca Food Bank, Humboldt County School District, and Winnemucca Domestic Violence Services with their annual "Stuff the Bus" food and toy drive. Buses will be located at the Khoury's and Raley's parking lots from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 6. Newmont employees will distribute the items to their respective organizations following the drive.
The Soroptimists of Winnemucca have been participating in holiday giving for over 10 years by "adopting" a local family and providing food for them for the holidays. The Soroptimists will be collecting food and/or cash donations through Dec. 18.
The adopted family is chosen through the Winnemucca Domestic Violence Services program and the Soroptomists have also chosen two senior citizens from the senior center to help provide for over the holidays. President Gina Rackley said the charity fits in with the Soroptimist mission: to help women and girls. They often try to find a family with a single mom, she said.
"We try to find situations where we can help women and children and better their lives in whatever way we can," Rackley said.
Choosing seniors to help support is just an another way to give back over the holidays.
"Pay it forward, pay it back," Rackley said.
Humboldt AVA-CASA is paying it forward this holiday season as well by holding a holiday party for foster children and helping provide for local foster families, which is one of the organization's main missions, according to Chelle Robinson.
"We really need more support here (for foster families)," Robinson said.
AVA-CASA is accepting donations of any kind to help support foster families: clothes, food, cash, gifts, and school supplies are just some of the items that can help a family in need - anything helps, according to Robinson.
"The foster parents do so much," she said. "We just want to make sure they don't have to struggle."
Community members who would like to donate something to help a foster family locally can call Robinson at (775) 623-2325 or Kisa Murrin at (775) 200-2701.
This holiday season marks the 11th year that the Humboldt Sun has held its annual Giving Tree for Seniors program which gives community members the opportunity to donate a gift to a senior during the holiday season.
This year the tree will be located at Bealls department store.
Winnemucca Publishing General Manager Holly Rudy-James said the tree is a way for the company to help provide for a sometimes overlooked group in the community.
"We do it so that needy seniors or seniors without family or who won't have as nice of a Christmas have that opportunity," Rudy-James said. "It's our way of helping a group of people often overlooked this time of year."
Community members who wish to participate can select an angel from the tree and exchange it for information about the senior it represents, such as: age, gender, favorite color, and items he or she may want or need.
Adopters then purchase a gift, wrap it, and return it to the Humboldt Sun office. The deadline to return gifts is Dec. 20 so that all presents can be delivered to their seniors by Christmas.
Raley's is also giving back to the community this holiday season with a "Food for Families" food drive. Shoppers can purchase a bag of food for $10 from the store and Raley's will double the donation and provide $20 worth of food to the local food bank.
The Humboldt Sun will be running a "Season of Giving" directory leading up to Christmas that lists groups, organizations and businesses with charitable giving opportunities this holiday season. Events can be added to the list by emailing information to j.anderson@winnemuccapublishing.net or calling (775) 623-5011 ext. 206.[[In-content Ad]]
