Christmas Baskets schedule

With Christmas coming soon, Santa is probably checking his list and polishing his boots to get ready for his trip around the world. 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 volunteer some time and Christmas Spirit.

Monday, Dec. 12: Final deadline – 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. Thanks.) We currently have a large number of stuffed animals.

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. Donations of wrapping paper or gift boxes are always appreciated. We won’t have the students from the Christian School to help us wrap this year so past volunteers should recruit a friend and join us. 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. Dec. 14.

Thursday, Dec. 15: The committee will set up tables today 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 today.

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.

On Saturday, Dec. 17: Volunteers plan to arrive by 8 a.m. and should park on the south side of the First Baptist Church. 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 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.

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 are 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.