Hope for the Holidays:

Community organizations are partnering together in an effort to offer both hope and happiness for the holidays.

There are a number of ongoing collection drives working to spread some holiday cheer.

Hope Hill Youth Services and the Montgomery County Regional Jail have teamed up on a Hope for the Holidays toy drive. Gateway Collision is also participating.

Gifts are being accepted for youths ages 2-21. 

On Monday, it was announced on Hope Hill’s social media page that along with all of Hope Hill’s foster children and Independent Living Program youths, a minimum of 75 families from the community will be assisted this year.

If donations exceed that initial number, more applications will be accepted.

All applicants must reside in Montgomery County and be under age 18. If you have a child who is 18 but still in high school you may list them on the application and gifts will be provided if approved, Hope Hill advises.

Due to a limited number of donations, not all applications are guaranteed to be approved, Hope Hill says. Families approved will be notified via email or phone.

Hope Hill stressed in a social media post to “Please keep in mind that even if you are approved we may not be able to fulfill any/all specific want/need items. All items that have been donated are toys, bath sets and other non-clothing gifts. Please note we are not able to provide clothing or shoes at this time.”

To apply, those interested are asked to fill out a Google form that can be accessed via a link on Hope Hill’s social media page. If you are unable to access the link or need assistance filling it out, contact 859-498-0373 and a Hope Hill staff member can assist you. 

Those involved have already set up and collected toys at some stores, including the Mt. Sterling Walmart and Ollie’s  and the Stanton Dollar General.

Collections are also set for Ollie’s here Nov. 15, 22 and 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Means Dollar General from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 15; Jeffersonville Dollar General Nov. 22 and Dec. 13 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Camargo Dollar General from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 29 and the Levee Dollar General from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 6.

If you choose to donate a toy at any of the collection sites you will receive one raffle ticket per donation for a chance to win one of two sets of UK basketball tickets. There will be two different drawings, one for the UK vs. Mississippi State game Jan. 10 and another for the UK vs. Oklahoma game Feb. 4.

Raffle tickets will be drawn on a livestream via the Hope Hill Facebook page Dec. 19. Winners must have a valid email address.

Toys can also be dropped off at Gateway Collision, 1499 Indian Mound Drive; at the jail or at the main Hope Hill office, 700 Hope Hill Road.

For additional information about donating, contact Logan Adkins, community outreach specialist for Hope Hill, at loganw.adkins@hopehill.org.

You can also find wish lists of items for the toy drive on both Amazon and Walmart. There are links to those wish lists on Hope Hill’s social media page.

Another way to contribute to Hope Hill this holiday season is on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Hope Hill asks that you consider donating for an opportunity to help improve a child’s life by supporting its Therapeutic Foster Care Program, Independent Living Program and upcoming Residential  Program.

Visit https://www.hopehill.org/giving-tuesday.

“Any amount helps, so if you are able to give this season, please consider helping out our youth,” Hope Hill says.