Holiday Helping Hands
Help the Charities Who Help our Community

Each month, we list several charitable and support organizations that need help fulfilling their missions to reach out to the needy and/or less fortunate. During the holidays, we all tend to think more about these individuals and their daily struggles and want to help them. Listed below are just some of the organizations in the Cherokee County area that during the holidays, receive an increasing amount of calls from families and individuals who need help. We hope this list helps you when you are considering volunteering your time or making donations.

Cherokee County Department of Family and Children's Services

Cherokee County Department of Family and Children's Services (DFACS) will sponsor a Secret Santa program. The program will match a foster child's wish list with a sponsor. This year, DFACS hopes to provide Christmas gifts for the more than 400 children currently in foster care. Sponsors can donate as much or as little as they can afford. They can donate cash or purchase gifts from a wish list. Gifts are requested to be donated unwrapped. DFACS also needs a secure building to house the Secret Santa gifts. For more information, please call Lou Fowler at (770) 720-3683. Further, DFACS is always in need of Foster Parents. The rewards are tremendous in helping a child in need. For more information on the Foster Parent Program, please call Pat Gayle at (770) 720-3610.

Cherokee County Senior Services

The Cherokee County Senior Services is presenting its Annual "Adopt a Senior" program. By donating a few simple and inexpensive items, it makes a big difference in a Senior's life. Volunteers will be matched with a Senior and a wish list will be provided. Some of the items needed include nonperishable foods such as single servings of fruits, vegetables and meats. They also need toiletries, blankets, robes, slippers, etc. To adopt a Senior, please contact Sharon Smith at (770) 704-2320. For information on all the services available to Seniors in Cherokee County, please call Olene Darby at (770) 345-5312.

Feed My Lambs

Feed My Lambs is a non-profit, local ministry whose mission is to open tuition-free Christian preschools for needy and underprivileged children in metro Atlanta. For the past 17 years, the ministry has held Happy Birthday Jesus parties at their preschools. They provide each child with a Happy Birthday Jesus sweatshirt, a winter hat, mittens and a gift. A dinner also is provided. The ministry needs financial donations to assist with the gifts. They also need volunteers to assist in buying, preparing and cooking the meals. For more information, please call Robin Gibson at (770) 795-9349 or email her at robin@feedmylambs.net.

Hillside United Methodist Church

Hillside United Methodist Church will sponsor its Annual Christmas Angels program, which provides gifts and food boxes to needy families in our community. Names of children and adults are gathered from area schools, agencies, and the Canton Housing Authority, and these children and adults can be sponsored through this program. For more information, please contact the church office at (770) 924-4777.

Holiday Wings of Hope

Dreams of trucks and stuffed bears and wishes for games and Barbies, all come true for many Cherokee children in need through the community's generosity of the "Holiday Wings of Hope" program. This holiday project, administered by the Anna Crawford Children's Center, collects holiday gifts for less fortunate children and teenagers served by the Center. Each year the toy drive provides holiday presents for many families and children in need. The children are treated to a party and toys at Christmas.

Toys, clothes and food are needed again this year. In order to match the needs of a child, families submit "wish lists." The wishes are matched to the donations. Each child receives as many "wishes" as can be fulfilled. Financial donations also are accepted. The Anna Crawford Children's Center is a program of the Cherokee Child Advocacy Council, which works to prevent child abuse and neglect in Cherokee County. The Center provides free therapy to

children who have suffered from sexual and physical abuse. To be an angel this year, contact Leigh Brown at (770) 592-9779 ext. 211 or email her at leigh@cherokeeadvocates.org. To make a financial contribution, please call Joyelle Vollero at (770) 592-9779, ext. 205 or you may email her at joyelle@cherokee advocates.org.

MUST Ministries

MUST Ministries provides Christmas gifts for Cherokee County children in need. Volunteers are needed to sort toys, set-up, restock and tear-down the Christmas store, help clients with gift selections and pack up remaining gifts. Donations of children's toys, winter outerwear, Christmas gift wrap, large trash bags and gifts for teens and parents are needed. Donations will be accepted throughout the holidays, but preferred delivery is on or before Tuesday, December 7. If you would like to donate, please call (770) 479-5397 ext 11.

NorthStar Church

NorthStar Church in Kennesaw is partnering with the community to support the sixth Annual "Shop with a Hero" on Saturday, December 11. The program teams up with law enforcement agencies, fire departments, civic organizations, local churches and small businesses to make a difference for a needy child's Christmas. The children range in age from newborn to 13 and must be recommended by social workers or family counselors. Kohl's department store in Acworth will host the event. Donations can be made to NorthStar Church, c/o Shop with a Hero, P.O. Box 2349, Kennesaw, GA 30156. Volunteers also are needed to help with registration or to escort a child through the store. Please call Marlon Longacre at (770) 420-9808 ext.209 or email him at marlon@northstarchurch.org for more information.

Papa's Pantry

Papa's Pantry is a year-round charity providing assistance to families in need. Papa's Pantry provides food assistance and support through donated resources. There are several ways to help Papa's Pantry ease the burden to families in crisis. The "Adopt a Family" program is a commitment to provide for a family's perishable needs such as milk, eggs, meat and produce. There also is a drop off location for non-perishable donations at The TowneLaker, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 340. For a complete list of needs, visit www.papaspantry.org or call (770) 926-7128.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to ring bells during its Annual Season Kettle Drive in Cherokee County. Volunteers are needed to man the kettle sites from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday and Saturdays through Christmas, as well as Christmas Eve. Individuals can volunteer for shifts as short as an hour. Money raised through the drive is used by the Salvation Army Center in Canton to help needy Cherokee County residents. For more information or to volunteer, please call (770) 720-4316.

Toy Drive

Around Canton magazine, in conjunction with the Historic Downtown Canton Association, is conducting a Toy Drive for the Cherokee Family Violence Center in an effort to help the children who are victims of domestic violence. Drop boxes for toys will be located at many downtown Canton businesses including: A.G. Edwards, Key's Jewelry, Jazzy's Kids Décor, Huckleberry's, Around Canton's office, Ridge Stone Church and more. All new unopened toys are accepted and needed (including items for teenage children). For more information on how you can help with this toy drive or where to donate, please call Around Canton at (770) 704-7443 or email Andrew Gehl at editor@aroundcanton.com.