Opportunities abound to fulfill holiday wishes 

The opportunity to put a smile on someone’s face or provide relief from the cold this month is easily within reach.

Several Wayne County organizations welcome help in fulfilling needs and wishes. A few groups are offering special giveaways or public gatherings.

These are just some of the opportunities to give or receive joy before Christmas.

Wayne County Sheriff’s Office

Community donations have made it possible for the sheriff’s office to offer a new family friendly Christmas event from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 13. It’s open to all Wayne County residents at the county annex, 401 E. Main St., Richmond.

Santa will visit, and prize giveaways are planned. Toys will be available for children attending the event while supplies last. WCSO staff say it’s a simple way to bring people together and bring a little joy to the families they protect and serve.

Parking is available in the south lot of the county annex. Visitors may enter through the south side doors. Festivities will be in the nearby commissioners’ chambers.

Find more information on page 19 of this week’s WWN.

Townsend Community Center Inc.

On Friday, Dec. 5, Townsend’s Angel Tree was decorated at First Financial Bank, 3433 E. Main St., Richmond, featuring children’s needs and wishes.

Families can register their children by completing a form at the bank through Dec. 10.

Shoppers can choose one or more tags and then let a teller know which name(s) they picked. They should bring wrapped gifts to the bank with the child’s name clearly marked by noon Saturday, Dec. 20.

“Thank you to everyone who helps make this possible and to all the parents and donors who support our Angel Tree each year,” a Townsend representative said when announcing the tree’s return at the bank. “Your generosity truly makes a difference.”

For more information, call Townsend at 765-488-2042.

Toys for Tots

Families have another week to gather documents for their children to be eligible for Toys for Tots. Whitewater Valley Marine Corps League serves ages 0-18 in Wayne and surrounding counties through the annual giveaway.

While supplies last, families can receive toys between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at 200 S. Ninth St., Richmond. All registration takes place in person that day; no online registration is available. 

Applicants are urged not to bring children with them. Because the building is now an open bar, a separate registration area will be designated for parents younger than 21.

This year, the Richmond site will serve children in Wayne, Fayette, Randolph, Union and Franklin counties plus neighboring Preble County, Ohio. 

ID requirements have changed, as reported in the Dec. 3 WWN. Parents need to bring a photo ID and proof of address plus proof of each child’s birth date through documents such as a birth certificate, Medicaid card or vaccination record.  This year, Social Security Numbers won’t be requested. 

Monetary donations are welcome, and several local sites have collection boxes for toys. The Marine Corps League opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Call 765-966-5283 for more information.

Western Wayne

Several groups are collaborating to help Western Wayne residents in need.

Love Baskets: Money and non-perishable foods are sought to help New Day Kiwanis provide Love Baskets of food. Checks or money orders can be mailed to New Day Kiwanis in care of Alan Austin, 1010 E. Main St., Cambridge City, IN 47327.

Western Wayne Schools students are collecting food by Friday, Dec. 12. Kiwanis members will prepare baskets on Saturday, Dec. 13, for delivery on Saturday, Dec. 20. Residents can apply for a basket at Golay Community Center, 1007 E. Main St. and Jackson Township Trustee’s office.

Blanket drive: Western Wayne Elementary and Lincoln Middle/High School students also are collecting new throw blankets to be distributed through Cambridge City Christian Church’s food/clothing pantry. Blankets are due Dec. 12 at the schools.

Food and blankets also can be taken directly to the church between 8 a.m.-noon weekdays at 106 W. Church St., Cambridge City.

In December, the pantry is open from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20.

Golay Community Center: All 58 Angel Tree tags have been claimed for shopping.

Emergency Warming Shelter

Volunteers and donors were called into action earlier in the winter than expected when temperatures plunged.

The warming center reopens as needed at LifeSpring Church’s South Campus, 501 S. Seventh St., Richmond. 

The grassroots effort is a collaboration of residents, businesses, churches and charities that combine providing free shelter to individuals and families when overnight temperatures are 25 degrees or lower, provided enough volunteers are available. Twenty cots are available for all ages.

Volunteers staff the shelter in shifts beginning at 6 p.m. Tasks include serving breakfast and dinner, setting up sleeping spaces, sorting donations, monitoring through the night and answering questions. Many late-night volunteers bring work, books or quiet entertainment while guests sleep.

Organizers ask those interested in donating meals to schedule deliveries in advance as little food storage space is available.

For more information, call 765-313-9670, email Ewcrichmondin@gmail.com or register as a volunteer at wwn.to/ewcvol.

Abilities Richmond

The organization has created an Angel Tree for 16 of its individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities who could use extra Christmas cheer.

Envelopes on the tree contain requests such as needed clothing items and simple wants.

Abilities is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at 831 N. E St., Richmond.

Info: 765-966-0066 or abilitiesrichmond.org

Salvation Army

Businesses, groups or individuals are sought to purchase toys, food and other items for the 450+ kids and teens on Wayne County’s Angel Tree. To contribute, call 765-966-7791 or send donations to 707 S. A St., Richmond, or salvationarmyusa.org/in/richmond/.

In addition, volunteers are needed to ring bells at collection kettles between 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays through Dec. 24. Richmond kettle locations include Hobby Lobby, Kroger, Needler’s Fresh Market and Walmart. They can sign up at registertoring.com. Kettle sponsorships are $100 to $2,500.

Giving trees/racks

• A giving tree including hats, gloves and sweatshirts has been placed inside Wayne County Courthouse, 301 E. Main St., Richmond for all ages in need. The courthouse is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays.
• First United Methodist Church at 238 W. Main St., Cambridge City, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 121 S. 18th St., Richmond, also have had outside displays where personal care items and winter gear can be left or picked up.

Special food giveaways

• LifeSpring Church is giving away 600 Christmas dinner boxes while supplies last between 2-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at its South campus, 501 S. Seventh St., Richmond. Other free activities during the community celebration include a hot chocolate bar, cookie decorating, photos with Santa and a meal. Volunteers can register on the LifeSpring.tv webpage.
• Gleaners’ monthly distribution in Richmond will be one week earlier this month because of the Christmas holiday. Groceries will be given from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at South 10th Street Park. 101 S. 10th St., Richmond. No identification is needed, and all are welcome, including walk-ups. Volunteer Teri Grossman said the need is high as about 600 households received food recently. Some Gleaners distributions in other communities are suspended during the winter, but Gleaners will continue offering food at the park on the fourth Monday each month in 2026, except for May, when it will be moved a week earlier to avoid Memorial Day.
• New Deliverance Temple Ministries is giving food baskets with a turkey or ham and other items between 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, at 1403 S. Ninth St., Richmond. No documents are required, but participants are limited to one basket per vehicle. Donations are being accepted. Food items can be delivered to the church, or financial gifts may be made online at giv.li/ozbvee.

RCS Orchestra

Richmond Community Schools’ Orchestra Department is “branching out this season” with a fundraiser to defray student travel costs.

For $20, several mini trees will be placed in a yard of the donor’s choice and will be removed after a couple days. For a $30 donation, insurance will protect yards from future tree arrivals.

For more information, call director Michael West at 702-907-6724 or email mwest@rcs.k12.in.us. 

Card shower

The Leland Legacy welcomes holiday greetings for any/all of its 95 residents.

Cards or notes can be dropped off or mailed to the senior/accessible living residence in care of Operation Christmas Card, 900 S. A St., Richmond, IN 47374.

Send information about giving opportunities to contact@westernwaynenews.com.