Although charities always welcome donations, December is a time when many organizations and volunteers especially aim to help bring joy to their communities.
Here are a few of those local giving opportunities in the coming weeks:
Love Baskets
Nonperishable foods can be delivered to Lincoln High School, Lincoln Middle School and Western Wayne Elementary School.
On Dec. 23, Cambridge City New Day Kiwanis expects to deliver more than 120 Love Baskets containing Christmas dinners to Western Wayne families.
Financial gifts can be sent to New Day Kiwanis, c/o Alan Austin, 1010 E. Main St., Cambridge City, IN 47327.
Applications to receive a basket may be picked up at Golay Community Center or Jackson Township Trustee’s office. They are due Dec. 14.
Angel Trees
- All of the Western Wayne children on Golay Community Center’s tree have been sponsored. The application deadline has passed.
- Townsend Community Center Inc. is making wish lists available for kids at First Financial Bank, 3433 E. Main St., Richmond. Gifts are due by 4:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at the bank. To learn more, call 765-488-2042.
Community dinners
Dublin: Donations of canned corn and green beans, and boxed macaroni and cheese are sought by Dec. 10 for Dublin Community Club’s community Christmas dinner.
Volunteers will prepare the foods. It will not be a pitch-in as in years past.
The free meal for community members and their families — and pictures with Santa — are from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 17 at the skating rink at Dublin’s Wilson Park (1764 Foundry Road in Cambridge City). Those attending are invited to bring a store-bought/prepackaged dessert to share.
Any unused food donations will be given to another nonprofit.
For more information about when donations can be delivered, call 765-541-1022.
Hagerstown: Nettle Creek Community Coalition and Jefferson Township are organizing a community dinner at noon Dec. 25 in The Meeting Place at 11 E. Main St. Donations of food and money, and volunteers are needed. Reservations are requested by Dec. 15 at 765-489-4824.
Traveling Bag of Kindness
Richmond High School senior Olivia Dudas continues her efforts to collect new items and money for youth-serving charities with local ties.
Dudas began the project in 2016, collecting mountains of items. Since the COVID pandemic, givers are asked to ship items or deliver them directly to recipient organizations, or contribute financially.
Communities in Schools of Wayne County’s top item on its Amazon wish list is boys’ sweatpants.
A Better Way (formerly Genesis of Richmond) can be reached at 765-966-0538 or abetterwaymuncie.org.
Needs at Justice and Advocacy Center for Youth (JACY) House at 1400 Chester Blvd. in Richmond include individually packaged snacks and Hot Wheels, washable markers and coloring books and crayons.
Riley Hospital for Children’s Cheer Guild buys toys for patients.
For more information, visit travelingbagofkindness.com.
Veterans support
The Journey Home, a veterans’ shelter serving area counties, seeks sponsors for 22 veterans in need.
For details on donations, call Justin Lester at 765-509-2993 or email jlester@journeyhomevets.org. Financial contributions can be sent to 110 S. Meridian St., Winchester, IN 47394.
Other giving opportunities
The Wayne County Foundation maintains a list of area nonprofits that work to make Wayne County a better place. Organizations often rely on the generosity of community members to be able to carry out their programming and generate additional support. View the full list with links to individual donation forms at waynecountyfoundation.org/nonprofit-database/ or contact the Foundation at 765-962-1638 for more information about areas of greatest need.
A version of this article appeared in the December 6 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.