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Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Local Nonprofits Hold Toy Drives to Help Everyone Have a Happy Holiday

By Madison Fisler Lewis

Nov. 24, 2014. Thanksgiving is almost here, and with that holiday under our respective belts, Christmas is almost upon us. While most High Country residents are buying gifts, wrapping packages, putting up decorations and imagining the holiday joy that comes on Dec. 25, there are many others who struggle to make ends meet in what should be the most joyous of seasons.

The holiday season means cold weather, higher electric and heating fuel bills, more groceries and other bills that can pile up and make it difficult on many families, and that strain is exacerbated by the need to purchase food and gifts. Luckily, the High Country has more than its fair share of nonprofit organizations and individuals willing to help out and spread some cheer to neighbors in need.

Operation Christmas Child

Though national collection week ended Nov. 23, Operation Christmas Child is still collecting shoebox gifts to distribute to children in need imgres-1this holiday season. The annual project is a favorite of many Boone residents, families, churches and groups who fill shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and notes of encouragement, and is the world’s largest project of its kind.

“Operation Christmas Child is a fun project that makes a tangible difference in the life of a child facing difficult circumstances. Anyone can participate, whether young or old,” said Carolina’s Regional Director Keith Burney in a release.

To participate in this initiative, all you need to start is a simple shoebox.

Participants are encouraged to fill a shoebox with gifts for a boy or a girl of an age of their choosing. Gift suggestions include small toys, school supplies, non-liquid hygiene items, accessories and a personal note. To cover the shipping of the gifts, participants are asked to include $7 for each gift prepared. From there, you may drop off your shoebox to a nearby drop off location during National Collections Week. This year’s collection sites are the Boone Processing Center at 801 Bamboo Rd. and Three Forks Baptist Church at 1922 U.S. 421.

Items that gift givers should avoid putting in the boxes include used or damaged items, liquids or lotions, medications, war-related items, and breakable items.

If you’d like, there is also the option of building a shoebox online here.

Toys for Tots

Becky and Kris Fowler of Eagle Rock Ministries have headed up the local Toys for Tots branch for years, and this year is no different. Toy collection boxes have been out and about the High Country Area for months, where donors can purchase a new toy and donate it simply by imgres-2dropping the unwrapped item in the box.

The processing center this year is in the retail space next to T.J. Maxx in the Boone Mall. The program has set up special collection sites to collect toys for needy children at the processing center itself, at Boone Drug locations at Deerfield and New Market Centre, Keller Williams Realty, High Country Honda, Dollar General, Walgreens and Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Monetary donations are also accepted.

“Last year we had 1,102 kids that we served, and this year, I am guessing that we will have around that same number,” said Becky Fowler.

“We will be taking donations up until Christmas, but ideally we would like to have all of the donations in by Dec. 20. We seem to have trouble getting gifts for the really young children and for the teenagers. We serve children from birth until age 18, and sometimes it is hard to get enough gifts for the teenagers and for the babies.”

Volunteers are still needed to help out with the local Toys for Tots effort.

“We are certainly still taking volunteers to help shop for gifts, wrap gifts, and work in the processing center with sorting the gifts and filling bags.”

Those who are interested in volunteering may contact Becky Fowler at 828-434-0484 or Kris Fowler at 828-260-2981. For more information about the local Toys for Tots initiative, click here.

High Country Caregiver Foundation

The High Country Caregiver Foundation once again needs the help and compassion of the community to collect gifts for children and families in its RAPP (Relatives as Parents Program) program. The organization is seeking donations of unwrapped toys, games, gift cards, sports equipment and gear, winter wear and bath and beauty products to help bring a little holiday cheer to children and families in need.

imgres1401Kinship caregivers, which are non-parental members of the family acting as caregiver to a child, are often overlooked as families in need during the holiday season. This program aims to help out these special families and provide children with a beautiful holiday season this year.

On Dec. 2, the High Country Caregiver Foundation’s annual Holiday for Kids party will be hosted by the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority at the Appalachian Panhellenic Hall starting at 5:30 p.m.

Kinship caregivers, which are non-parental members of the family acting as caregiver to a child, are often overlooked as families in need during the holiday season. This program aims to help out these special families and provide children with a beautiful holiday season this year.

On Dec. 2, the High Country Caregivers Association’s annual Holiday for Kids party will be hosted by the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority at the Appalachian Panhellenic Hall starting at 5:30 p.m.

Along with gifts for the children in the program, the organization is also hoping to collect gifts for the children to give their caregivers as well. This year, the drive and the holiday party will assist approximately 35 kinship caregiver families with about 50 children.

Donations can be dropped off at the High Country Council of Government office between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. More drop off locations will be added when they become available. The High Country Council of Government office is located at 468 New Market Blvd. in Boone.

If you are a kinship caregiver and wish to receive assistance from this drive, please contact Brenda Reece at 828-265-5434. For more information about donations or the organization, click here.

Santa’s Toy Box

Since 1986, Santa’s Toy Box has been helping High Country children have the best Christmas possible. Last year, the organization was imgres-3able to help more than 800 less fortunate children in Watauga County have a merry Christmas, and organizers plan on doing the same thing this year.

But Santa’s Toy Box needs your help.

“With prices climbing and Santa’s Toy Box growing each year, we are in need of finds or donations of toys to help fill the many requests by parents for help at Christmas this year,” said organizer Gene Swift in a letter. “Donations of money or toys will be greatly appreciated. Volunteers are also welcome.”

Santa’s Toy Box’s location this year is 190 Poplar Grove Rd. in Boone. Donations of toys are being accepted at Big Lots, Watauga Opportunities, The Boone Police Department, Kangaroo, Ross Chrysler Plymouth, Everett Nissan and High Country Host.

Those interested in volunteering may contact Gene Swift 828-266-3362

Highlands Association of Child Development and Advocacy Book Drive

The Highlands Association of Child Development and Advocacy (HACDA) has extended the headline for its book drive until Thanksgiving. The Appalachian State University club strives to promote literacy in children by collecting new and used books to donate to local childcare centers and organizations in need of books for children.

The HACDA is collecting books in collection boxes to donate to children in need, both locally and internationally.

“The Children’s Council will receive half of the books that are donated, and they will give the books to children who need books in the home,” said Hannah Easter, president of HACDA.

The goal of the club is to educate and advocate for the rights of children in the community, but recently the club has broadened its horizons. In addition to the local giving, the club hopes to donate books to children in Uganda as well.

The drive is seeking books for all ages of children, from the youngest into high school age. Fiction and nonfiction books are welcome, as are educational books and textbooks.

Donation boxes have been placed at the Belk Library and Information Commons and at the Reich College of Education building, both on Appalachian State University’s campus.

Do you know of a nonprofit drive that we missed? If so, email us here!