Christmas Baskets final notes

Signs that Christmas is just around the corner are all around us. Here in El Dorado Springs we are helping to share the holiday spirit. Thanks to the donations of food, toys and time, the holiday will be brighter for some families that have struggled to make ends meet this year. Some happy children will find gifts under the tree and families will find food on the table. But there is still time to help your neighbors and share the Christmas Spirit. Non perishable foods and toys are still needed. Cash donations can be sent to Christmas Baskets treasurer, Steve Wiseman, at 884 S. 257 Rd., El Dorado Springs.

If you applied for a Christmas Basket this year, you should have received a confirmation letter by now. If you did not receive a confirmation letter, please call 296-4216. You will need to bring your confirmation letter with you to pick up your basket and gifts for children on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the First Baptist Church from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Due to the large number of requests for delivery this year, the committee asks that you make every effort to share rides with a friend or neighbor and make arrangements to pick up your basket even if you made a request for delivery. We are glad to deliver to shut-ins and the elderly who can’t pick up their food and we understand that sometimes you just can’t find a way to get to the church, but we would sincerely appreciate your help in picking items up whenever possible. Please let us know by Monday, Dec. 12, by calling 296-4216 if we can take your name off of the delivery list.

Christmas Baskets schedule for 2016

Monday, Dec. 12: Final deadline for toys. Please bring new, unwrapped toys to the First Baptist Church on Main Street by noon. Toys that do not require a battery are best. (Please include the battery if needed by taping it to the toy.)

Wednesday, Dec. 14: Volunteers to wrap toys are needed at 9 a.m. Put on your favorite Christmas sweater, bring a friend and lend a hand. Please bring your own scissors. We are usually finished by noon.

Any last minute donations of non-perishable foods should be delivered to the Youth Center between noon and 3 p.m. that day.

Thursday, Dec. 15: The committee will set up tables that day and move the food from the Youth Center to the First Baptist Church after it has been counted. Students from the Christian School will help.

Friday, Dec. 16: Volunteers are needed to help box the food. Please arrive by 9 a.m. at the First Baptist Church. This step goes faster if you work with a partner so recruit a friend or family member. We have shopping carts so there is not as much lifting. Fruit and candy sacks will be filled on this date also.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Volunteers should park on the south side of the First Baptist Church and plan to arrive by 8 a.m. Local FFA students will help carry food out to cars.

Volunteers help to deliver baskets to shut-ins and elderly who do not have transportation. If you have requested delivery, please be at home beginning at 8:00 a.m. Volunteers will only make one attempt to deliver your food basket and then it will be donated to a family on the waiting list. Please remove your name from the delivery list by calling 296-4216 by Monday., Dec. 12. if you can find transportation. Thank you for your consideration.

Recipients should park across the street on the north side of Joe Davis on Saturday. Please be sure to bring your confirmation letter. Distribution will begin at 9 a.m. Only one car at a time should park in the driveway of the church to pick up food baskets. All baskets should be picked up before 11:30 a.m. Baskets that are not picked up will be donated to families on the waiting list. If you have questions, please contact chairman Amy Castor at 296-4216.

We especially appreciate the use of the First Baptist Church to house this project as well as the use of storage at the Youth Center. It takes a lot of space to sort, wrap and box toys and food, and the space at the church and the Center are wonderful. The committee sincerely appreciates all the many community volunteers who make this project possible. The success of this project depends on the generosity of the community and the many volunteers who lend a hand.