Outreach in Action

Outreach Holiday Program: The need keeps growing, for enrolled families and for donors

by Jo Mayer and Paul Crandall

Preparation helps keep panic at bay at Stockbridge Area Outreach. Volunteer Coordinator Lori Hendrick (left) and Director Gwen Reid (right) prepare for the organization’s 2024 holiday programs to help folks in need. Photo credit: Jo Mayer.

The holidays are fast approaching and with them come thoughts—and a bit of panic—of the holiday programs at Outreach.

Demand for the programs, which involve special distributions of food and gifts donated by the community, is looking as strong as ever.

“Last year about did us in,” said Outreach Director Gwen Reid. “We ended up with 107 families, and a couple of those didn’t get adopted, so we were scrambling to make sure everyone was taken care of.”

Lori Hendrick, volunteer coordinator, recalled that all applicants got full food baskets and gifts according to their wishes last year, but there were last-minute present-wrapping parties and shopping excursions behind the scenes to make that happen.

“We depend so much on the community to make these programs work,” Reid said. She added, “The results are truly amazing, overwhelming and wonderful all at once!”

Following are some important ways people in the community pitch in:

• Food drives are held at various locations (schools, churches and elsewhere) by groups like the Stockbridge Lions Club, scout troops, church congregations, and more.
• Families are adopted by individuals and other families who contribute gifts.
• Turkey and ham donations are received from businesses, including Meijer, and organizations, including the UAW.
• Monetary donations and gift cards are accepted.
• The Stuff a Bus event and the annual Bev Penix Memorial Toy Party collect everything from toys to money to food.
• “Present parties” are held so guests can bring unwrapped gifts and blankets to be donated

Do any of these sound like something you might want to get involved in? If so, keep reading!

Important information for program enrollees

Enrollment for those who need the program this year will run from Oct. 28 to Nov. 27. Enrollment is done in person, by appointment. Please call the Outreach office at 517-851-7285 to schedule. A couple things to keep in mind if you plan to enroll in the program:

• Applicants will be asked for proof of residency and income, and upon verification, will complete a wish list for each member of the family.
• A completed application enrolls a family in both programs—Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some choose not to receive a Thanksgiving basket if they are not preparing dinner at home, and others choose not to fill out a Christmas wish list and to receive food only.

Important information for donors

To get involved as a donor, please call (517-851-7285) or email the Outreach office to sign up as an Adopt-a-Family donor ([email protected]).

• Adopted families range in size from one to as many as 12; donors can choose the size of family they are comfortable with, given their budget.
• A good rule of thumb is about $100 per adopted family member, but each donor must decide that for themselves, and some wish lists may have only one or two items.
• Folks taking part will need to have their wrapped, labeled gifts to Outreach by Friday, Dec. 13, by 3:00 pm.
• Thinking about donating food? Here’s what’s needed: yams, cranberry sauce, instant potatoes, gravy, TURKEYS for Thanksgiving, HAMS for Christmas, evaporated milk, canned pumpkin, stuffing, cream of mushroom soup, and jello.
• Please let us know if you are doing a food drive (or any other kind of drive) so we can coordinate our purchases.
• Deadlines for food donations:
  • If you plan to donate food for Thanksgiving baskets, the deadline is Nov. 22.
  • The Christmas foods donation deadline is Dec. 13.

Alternative for those late to the program

Another Outreach home for contributions of new items: the holiday gift store set up and managed by Lori Hendrick every year. The store serves families and individuals who come in after the enrollment deadline for Adopt-a-Family has passed.

“We have had anywhere from 10-20 families use this service in the past,” Hendrick said. “The store is set up by the beginning of December and we add new items until it closes just before Christmas.”

The Outreach Holiday Program’s overriding goal is that every enrolled family is adopted. Please consider helping.

Adoptee sign-ups for the Outreach Holiday Program begin Oct. 28. Donors are asked to start planning now for making donations for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. Image credit: Samuel Holt on unsplash.com

This column is sponsored by Stockbridge Community Outreach, our local food pantry, crisis, and referral center located in the Stockbridge Activity Center (old middle school) near Cherry and Elm streets in Stockbridge. Office hours are 1-3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and by appointment. [email protected], 517-851-7285, or find us on Facebook.