Chris Clarke, sixth-year principal of the Milton H. Allen Elementary School, and fifth grade student, Christian Hower, stand beside the school’s Toys for Tots drop box located in the lobby.[/caption]
’Tis the season for giving. While many people get to enjoy the holidays with food, music and in the company of friends and family, others are not so fortunate. For this reason, Medford residents should consider donating to a variety of local businesses and organizations that are helping to spread the holiday cheer.
The Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross, located at 11 Wilkins Station Road, is engaged in its annual collection of items to fill 50 Christmas stockings for the Covenant House in Camden. The filled stockings will contain hats and gloves, toothpaste and brushes, deodorant, shampoo, chapstick, razors, hand lotion and other products that can help homeless youth. For more information, call the church at (609) 654–4865.
The Medford Historical Society is taking part in the Toys for Tots program, and has a drop box located at Columbia Bank at 133 Route 70. The Pinelands Branch Library and Milton H. Allen Elementary School will also have Toys for Tots drop boxes to encourage the donation of new, unused toys. Also within the community’s schools, the Haines 6th Grade Center’s, team 62 will be hosting a coat drive, and Kirby’s Mill Elementary School is taking part in a giving tree.
Similarly, St. Mary of the Lakes School’s Mission Club, an after-school service based club, holds an annual toy drive for Catholic Charities. It collects new and unwrapped toys for a donation to Catholic Charities. The entire school also collects items for families in need and donates them to the St. Vincent De Paul Society in Medford. This is an annual tradition for the school, as is having students make wonderful Christmas cards for senior citizens that are then distributed at various local senior centers.
Aside from toys and other goods, residents can also choose to donate blood. Sponsored by the Medford Lakes Lions Club, a blood drive will be held on Monday, Dec. 12 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will take place at Oaks Hall, located at 1 Cabin Circle in Medford Lakes. First-time donors are welcomed, and appointments can be made by visiting www.redcrossblood.org.
To help animals this winter, Taunton Forge School is assisting the Burlington County Animal Shelter by collecting food, newspaper, heartguard, paper towels, blankets and other products the animal shelter can use. To donate, goods can be dropped off in the school’s lobby through Tuesday, Dec. 20. For a complete list of items acceptable for donation, visit http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/1290/Donation-Wish-List.
Additionally, the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge is encouraging the public to symbolically adopt wildlife for holiday gifts in a program called Adopt a Wild One. Community members can help one of the injured or orphaned animals by symbolically “adopting” it for a year. The support provides food, medicine, veterinary treatment and lots of tender loving care. Visit the Resident Wildlife page to see what animals are adoptable.
The Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge is also collecting Wish List items for the wildlife this holiday season. It is most in need of paper towels, no-mess bird seed, green veggie baby food, latex medical gloves and rakes.
To help show support for the United States military forces serving in the Middle East including Iraq, Afghanistan and those supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve, consider donating to Operation Yellow Ribbon. Through this initiative, community members can donate and send supplies and goodies to brave U.S. troops deployed in harm’s way.
“We are an all-volunteer 501c3 non-profit where no one makes a dime. We give countless hours, time, energy and treasure each week trying to boost morale and bring smiles to those who deserve it the most and that is our U.S. service members deployed in harm’s way in the Middle East,” David Silver, one of the co-founders and president of the organization, said. “By donating, you will know every penny will be used wisely, and that’s for our care package expenses, and the funds stay local, helping a South Jersey organization.”
OYR requests and accepts items such as 5 Hour Energy drink products, Mio liquid water enhancer, Rice Crispy treats, bagged tuna and chicken, chewing gum/candy suckers, dry roasted peanuts or mixed nuts, potato chips in cylinder or can, dried fruit and more. Donations to OYR can be made at http://www.operationyellowribbonsouthjersey.org/make-a-tax-deductible-donation/. To send a care package, visit the organization’s website at http://www.operationyellowribbonsouthjersey.org/donate-care-package-items/.
If you know of additional charitable donation opportunities taking place over the next month, please comment with the necessary information.
