Outreach in Action

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Mark your calendars for holiday giving and receiving at Outreach

by Jo Mayer and Paul Crandall

As summer gives way to fall, our thoughts turn to the holidays—and, for Outreach, a flurry of holiday programming.

Outreach offers Thanksgiving-themed food bags and Christmas-themed food baskets each year to those who apply and qualify for help. 

Community members support our Adopt-a-Family program at Christmastime, an effort that anonymously matches those hoping for gifts with those willing to help provide them.

Outreach offers a “Christmas Store” stocked with donations for those families who qualify but don’t get adopted.  In the past, annual events such as Stuff-a-Bus, the Bev Penix Toy Drive and home “present parties” have helped to fill this room with attractive toys and gifts.  

Past years have demonstrated how families have come to depend on Outreach for the holidays. During the Christmas 2024 season, Outreach helped 138 households with food. As for Adopt-a-Family, 88 families were adopted, and 22 families used the Christmas Store. We also gave out 46 new coats, thanks to donors!

IMORTANT DATES FOR HOLIDAY GIVING AND RECEIVING

For those who NEED HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE:

  • Apply for Holiday Assistance:                                     Mon., Oct. 27 through  Wed., Nov. 26

             (Call to schedule an appointment. Bring updated household income info with you.)

  • Last day to apply for Thanksgiving:                          Wed., Nov. 19
  • Thanksgiving Distribution:                                           Mon., Nov. 24, 1 – 3pm
  • NO PANTRY appointments:                                       Mon., Nov. 24
  • No POP UP food distribution:                                    Wed., Nov. 26
  • PANTRY appointments begin again                          Wed., Nov. 26, 1 – 3pm
  • Last day to apply for Christmas adoption:              Wed., Nov. 26
  • Outreach CLOSED for Thanksgiving holiday:         Fri., Nov. 28
  • Christmas Room Opens to qualified families:        Mon., Dec. 8

(Call to schedule an appointment to qualify for and shop the room.)

  • Christmas food and gift distribution:                        Fri., Dec. 19,  Noon – 3pm
  • NO PANTRY appointments                                        Fri., Dec. 19)
  • OUTREACH CLOSED and NO POP-UP:                     Christmas Eve Day, Wed. Dec. 24
  • OUTREACH CLOSED and NO POP-UP:                     New Year’s Eve Day Wed. Dec. 31

For those who would LIKE TO ASSIST WITH DONATIONS:

  • DONATION ROOM CLOSED for some donations    Wed., Oct. 1 to Mon., Jan. 12

(Temporarily not accepting household goods and clothing—except winter outerwear—during this time.)

  • Call, email, or stop in to Adopt a Family                   Starting Mon., Nov. 3
  • Food donations due for Thanksgiving bags              Fri., Nov. 21
  • Gift and food donations due for Christmas              Friday, Dec. 12

To learn more about the Outreach holiday programs, please email outreach49285@gmail.com or call 517-851-7285.

This column is sponsored by Stockbridge Community Outreach. Our local food pantry, crisis, and referral center is 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. Outreach49285@gmail.com, 517-851-7285, or find us on Facebook.

Past turnout demonstrates how families have come to depend on Outreach for the holidays. Mark your calendars to give or receive through Outreach. Photo credit: Eliza Diamond on unsplash.com

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