With Thanksgiving weeks away and Christmas decorations already coming out of storage and up in some spots across town, the holiday season is once again upon us.
To help bring the magic of Christmas to those in need this holiday season, several nonprofit organizations have been preparing their holiday campaigns for months and will launch them soon.
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Here are some charities launching their giving campaigns this week …
Toys for Tots
To ensure that the magic of Christmas shines through for every child this holiday season, the Eastex Detachment Marine Corps League will kick off its annual Toys for Tots holiday toy drive at Conroe’s Montgomery County Memorial Library System Central library Thursday morning.
Visitors to the library can donate a new, unwrapped toy to the donation box at the library lobby.
The deadline to drop off toys at collection boxes is Dec. 12.
The 2021 project saw 23,000 toys distributed and 10,500 children supported across the five-county region including Montgomery, Polk, Walker, San Jacinto and Liberty counties.
Pam Armitage, local Toys for Tots coordinator, said the organization plans to bring Christmas to about 900 families this year.
Other donation boxes are at Honor Café in downtown Conroe, Cheddars in Conroe, Sherri Edwards’ State Farm on West Davis Street, Texas Marine SMG Boats, Cowboy KIA, PetsMart and Golden Corral.
“This really warms my heart. There are so many children out there that if it wasn’t for Toys for Toys they wouldn’t have anything under the tree,” Armitage said.
She said there’s even more need this year. The program serves through age 13 and she’s noticed many of the children on the list are closer to 13.
There have also been a lot of requests for bikes this year.
Visit https://www.toysfortots.org/ for more.
Conroe’s Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is Conroe is ramping up for its busiest time of the year with several holiday programs that benefit those in need.
From Friday through Nov. 18, seven Salvation Army bell ringers will be back at store fronts ringing the bell and collecting funds in their famous red kettle program.
Salvation Army Lt. James Guzman said the Conroe red kettle campaign collected $333,000 to support the Salvation Army’s programs in 2021. This year their goal is $330,000 in donations or $250 to $300 for each kettle site.
After Thanksgiving, bell ringers will be at more than 40 sites across Montgomery County.
The organization is also launching its Angel Tree program Wednesday. Local businesses have Christmas trees with Angel Tree tags on them. Each tag represents the wish list of a child or family in need. A person then fulfills the Angel Tree wish list and returns the items to the Salvation Army or The Woodlands Mall for distribution.
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The largest Angel Tree is at The Woodlands Mall and that tree will go up Wednesday.
This year the program will support 960 families, 1,500 children and 300 seniors.
The group is also preparing for the 36th Annual Doll and Bear Silver Tea. At the event hundreds of dolls and bears are lovingly dressed by volunteers and the dolls and bears are sold at a special holiday event the afternoon of Dec. 11 at First Methodist Conroe.
See https://www.facebook.com/TheSalvationArmyConroeTxMontomeryCounty/ for more.
Stock the Sleigh
Join Montgomery County Food Bank in the fight against hunger by participating in this year’s community food and funds drive, Stock The Sleigh, campaign which runs now through Dec. 2.
Participants can host a food drive, be a fundraising ornament location where participants can scan a QR code to donate or become a sponsor of the campaign.
On Dec. 2, the Montgomery County Food Bank will host its holiday themed food drop off event from 4 to 7 p.m. at the food bank’s location 1 Food for Life, Conroe.
There will be sweet treats, pictures with Santa and more fun activities during the drop off.
The most needed items are canned meat or pouches, grains, 100 percent fruit juices, canned vegetables, canned or dry beans, peanut butter, canned fruits, hot and cold cereals, healthy snacks and monetary donations.
For more information, please visit mcfoodbank.org/stockthesleigh or contact [email protected] or 936-271-8822.
Holiday giving through Interfaith
The nonprofit Interfaith of The Woodlands has several different programs to participate in holiday giving.
Interfaith will match an individual or group with a family and provide their list of gift ideas. Contact Nayely Reyes, [email protected] to adopt a family this holiday season. Gifts are due to Interfaith noon Nov. 29.
Interfaith also encourages businesses to host a toy or gift card drive. Contact Nayely Reyes, [email protected], so that she can help facilitate the collection and drop off of these items. Toys and gift card drives are due to Interfaith by noon Dec. 14.
To provide a gift for a local senior neighbor this holiday season, contact Laurie Oglesby, [email protected] and she can provide a suggested gift card. Gifts are due to Interfaith by noon Nov. 29.
To organize a food drive that benefits the Interfaith food pantry, contact Ana Hardy, [email protected]. The food pantry needs items to make a holiday meal, canned goods and personal care items like toothpaste, deodorant and soap.
See https://woodlandsinterfaith.org/ for more.
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