Holiday outreach groups issue calls for donations

Holiday outreach groups issue calls for donations

Area groups accepting donations for holiday food and gift efforts include the following:

•Hamlin's Life Solutions, P.O. Box 160, Hamlin, NY 14464-0160, 964-7420. Formerly Bread & Thread, serving north of the Brockport distributions area. Accepting donations of non-perishable foods, paper products and toiletries, and special foods for holiday meals.

•Spencerport Cartons for Christmas, sponsored by the Ecumenical Council of area churches. Donations of canned, boxed and bagged foods; donations of money to buy perishables for each family. Make checks payable to Cartons For Christmas.

Open houses will be held to accept donations at St. John the Evangelist School gym, off Martha Street in the Village of Spencerport on Friday, December 1 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 2 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

Beginning November 13, stop in at Spencerport Insurance, 147 South Union, Spencerport and select an angel from the "Toy Tree" as a way to provide a toy for a local child.

•DePaul Holiday Helpers Program - individuals and service organizations can "adopt" clients from DePaul's mental health residential programs, and in some cases, their children and grandchildren. Participants can select from items on a wish list or choose to donate generic gifts such as hats, gloves, scarves, personal care items or socks. Past wish list gifts have been items as simple as "a piece of chocolate cake," or "a new purse." For information about the Holiday Helpers Program or to volunteer, contact Natalie Ciao at (585) 426-8000, ext. 3102.

•The Brockport Ecumenical Emergency Foodshelf is planning to put together and distribute Thanksgiving baskets on Saturday, November 18. Donations of food items and monetary contributions accepted. Especially need canned fruit, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, jello and roasting pans. Most churches in the area are collection points. Checks can be made out to the Brockport Ecumenical Emergency Food Shelf, and sent to 52 Main Street, Brockport, NY 14420. Money collected will be used to buy turkeys, eggs, milk and butter.

Volunteers needed to help pack the baskets and to distribute them to clients. Call the Food Shelf at 637-8169 and leave a message.

The Community Loaf and Ladle will host a free Thanksgiving meal at St. Mary's Social and Education Center in Holley on November 23 from noon to 2 p.m. All are invited, reservations are not necessary but are appreciated by calling 638-6718.

Donations of food and paper items as well as volunteers to prepare and serve the meal are needed. Call 638-6718 for information.

To list an outreach project within the readership of Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald, mail information as shown above to Outreach Efforts, Westside News Inc., P.O. Box 106, Spencerport, NY 14559. FAX to 352-3411 or E-mail westside@netacc.net.