Ways to help those in need this holiday season locally plentiful

If you are looking for other ways to give this holiday season, local efforts are plentiful this year!

• The Camargo branch of the Montgomery County library is conducting a food drive for the community.

Items will be collected for those in need throug November and December and longer if needed. All donations will be given to Ella's Outreach in Camargo for distribution.

A collection box is located just outside the main library door. 

• Cash Express has paired up with a local domestic violence program to accept toys, coats, shoes (washable), clothing and non-perishable food items at many drop-off locations in the area. 

Cash Express asks for donations to be received by Dec. 15 in order to have them delivered in time for Christmas. Schools are being asked to collect and Cash Express will provide a pizza party to the class in each grade that collects the most. Principals will decide the winning class.

A fill the fire truck event is also set for Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Cash Express, 1350 Indian Mound Drive. Cash Express notes it is its 21st annual toy and coat drive and along with the Montgomery County Fire Dept. is asking for donations of gently used toys, clothes, shoes or new items. Non-perishable food will also be accepted.

• Local rescue organization Love of Paws says it could use donations of canned dog food, puppy pads, Clorox wipes, unscented laundry liquid, Lysol, gas gift cards, dog treats, dog toys, Purina dog chow, paper towels and bleach.

Pat Henry, founder and president, says Love of Paws placed 814 dogs and cats to date this year.

Donations can be dropped by 1122 Bunker Hill Road.

• The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 56 sent out letters in mid-October to invite citizens of Montgomery, Bath and Menifee counties to partner with it for the annual Shop with a Cop Program.

The goal each year is invite at least 100 children to participate.

Children are referred to FOP by local social agencies and family resource centers and invited to go shopping with a uniformed officer. Children can purchase what they choose and many purchase a gift for a family member or winter clothes.

The capital campaign lasts two months, but you can donate to FOP Lodge No. 56 any time throughout the year by dropping off donations at the Mt. Sterling Police Dept.

Checks can be made payable to Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 56 and sent to P.O. Box 747, Mt. Sterling, Ky., 40353.

• You can find a jacket box outside Creative Twist, 31 S. Maysville St. If you have jackets to donate, bring them by anytime. The box will be there until spring.

• Tiffany Elliott and Lakyn Leggett are putting together Thanksgiving boxes, providing a full meal that will include turkey or ham and all the fixings. Quantities will be limited unless there is more help to sponsor.

Donations of instant potatoes, canned food and macaroni and cheese are being accepted.

Those interested in donating can contact either on social media to meet for pickup or for Venmo info to donate.

• Donate leftover turkey or green beans to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter for shelter animals. The shelter will also accept pumpkin or canned sweet potatoes. The shelter requests the pumpkin be in a can with no spices.

If you would like to help shelter animals have a special Thanksgiving dinner, you can drop items off after Thanksgiving. Give the shelter a call so it is prepared to take donations, 859-498-8751.

The shelter can also use dog food, dog treats and dog toys to provide enrichment since animals will be inside more this winter due to weather.Donations can be dropped off at the shelter, 115 Adena Drive.

• Gateway Children’s Services is doing Angel Tree again this year. Those interested in participating can call 859-498-9892 or visit gatewaychildrensservices.org to sign up.

GCS is asking the community’s help in replacing four HVAC units at the  facility (total $59,000). Donations can be mailed to 37 N. Maysville St. or online at gatewaychildrensservices.org/donate, according to Director of Development and Community Engagement Lynda Taylor.

Taylor said GCS always needs hygiene items (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, deodorant, feminine napkins, etc) and puzzles.

Gateway will also be partnering with Shoe Sensation for a “Shoe Tree” in December. Sponsors can purchase a pair of tennis shoes for each of Gateway’s youths.

• The Gateway Area Humane Society says it can always use donations. It gets a grant for free cat spays and neuters but has nothing for dogs of folks who can’t afford low-cost surgeries.  Donations to the spay and neuter fund would help pay for low income folks to get their dogs fixed. 

Donations can be mailed to: Gateway Area Humane Society, 309 Flint Drive, Mt. Sterling, Ky., 40353. Any checks should be made out to Gateway Area Humane Society or GAHS.

You can also visit https://www.gatewayareahumanesociety.com/donations to check out an Amazon wish list or donate by PayPal or Venmo.

• The Montgomery County Homeless Coalition offers the Sterling House Inclement Weather Center. If you would like to volunteer when the center is open, message the coalition on social media or call or text 859-520-3004.

• The annual Harper Reign Toy Drive is being conducted by Cassandra and Brianna Reed in honor of their daughter, Harper, who passed away in 2022. Toys are collected and donated to UK Children’s Hospital to make Christmas brighter for children.

There are collection boxes at Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Amegabella Boutique, Berryman’s, Spring Street Baptist Church and Eclectic Art and Tattoo. Collections continue through Dec. 15.

• Jacob’s Discount Warehouse is running a drive to pay homage to Cathi Taylor and Arms of Love. Donations of new or gently  used coats, gloves, hats, scarves, food, new toys and or monetary donations can be dropped off at 8 N. Wilson St. Jacob’s will be accepting donations all year, Taylor told the Advocate, “because it will pick up where my old Arms of Love ended and it will be an annual event.” 

• Each school has an Angel Tree. It’s done through the Family Resource and Youth Service Centers. If someone is interested in adopting an angel, they can reach out to an individual school’s coordinator.

They include:

Amy Willoughby, Camargo, 859-497-8776

Sharon Ramey, Mapleton, 859-497-8752

Rachel Howard, MSE, 859-497-8730

Erin Shillington, Northview, 859-497-8703

Cartrec Garrett, McNabb, 859-497-8770

Ashley Crowe, MCHS, 859-497-8765

Marnettia Johnson, Sterling School, 859-497-8761.

• Brooks Lynne Overton  and Jenny Anderson Howell have adopted several local families to help out this Thanksgiving.

Frozen turkeys, ham, potatoes, gravy and all the holiday fixings are being collected for a warm meal.

Items will be put in a tote and delivered the weekend before Thanksgiving, Overton said. “This community never disappoints.”

Drop-off locations are The  Hair Co., The Honey Haus Boutique, The Hub, The Citizens Bank in Sharpsburg, Southern Queens, Southern Sweeties and Amazin’ Grazin and A1 Food Mart in Camargo.

• DOVES of Gateway provides a 24/7 emergency safe shelter and assists with Emergency and Interpersonal Protective Orders after hours to victims of abuse in communities. It provides services to the Gateway counties including  Montgomery, of Rowan, Menifee, Morgan and Bath.

It says it has seen a significant increase in calls for food and other necessities and is asking for donations of non-perishable food items and winter clothing (new with tags coats and accessories of all sizes for both children and adults as well as clothing) at the shelter in Morehead.

Call 606-784-6880 for more information.

• Windsor Care Center will have Senior Angels  with lists of items that can be purchased for residents at CVS on Black Friday. You can follow Windsor Care on social media for updates.