Helping Hands for Happier Holidays
by Tina Cole-Mullins
The snow is upon us and so are good deeds. Listed here are just a couple examples of how our community members step forward to help their neighbors.
To help those in need of coats, hats, boots and gloves, Celebrate Recovery, Munith/Stockbridge Pay it Forward, and Wake Up Stockbridge & Surrounding Communities, hosted a coat drive in October at Crossroads Community Church. They gave away many coats at the event and gave the remaining coats to Stockbridge Community Outreach, where the coats have all but disappeared to grateful recipients. (To help those who still need winter wear, Susan Pidd Realty is currently collecting coats at 220 W. Main St. Stockbridge, with all donations going to Stockbridge Community Outreach.) Outreach is also accepting coats and outerwear donations directly at their offices in the Stockbridge Activity Center (old middle school, off the back parking lot) and people are welcome to come check them out during office hours, Monday & Friday from 9am – 3pm, Wednesdays from 1-6pm.
In November, Wake Up Stockbridge, put out a call for assistance for a young new military family who had been nominated for a Christmas surprise. Debi Kunzelman and the Mackinder Glenn American Legion & Legion Riders answered that request, adopting the family and presenting them with a gift card, aid in a U-Haul rental, and even paid their Legion dues while on active duty. Wake Up Stockbridge added a box of gifts for the child for Christmas.
November also brought with it Veterans Day and a desire by many within this close-knit group of networkers to adopt a veteran for Christmas and pay their utility bill. The Munith Lions Club stepped forward with a gracious donation backing this fundraiser and, with the help of Wake Up Stockbridge, they will collect bottles/cans with proceeds going toward this effort. The Munith Lions Club will handle the distribution of gifts and assistance. If you would like to help a veteran with their utility bill this season you can: Drop bottles/cans at The Auto Shop Lantis Plaza, contact Wake Up Stockbridge & Surrounding Communities on Facebook, email me at tcolemullins@gmail.com, the Munith Lions Club President Glenn Buckmaster at cito_alive@yahoo.com, or make an online donation at www.paypal.me/glennBuckmaster
If you have a story of kindness and generosity in our community, please let me know and we will help spread the cheer.
