It's hard to believe, but it's almost that time of year again: the holidays.
We are already getting press releases about Christmas parades and activities. Sadly, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be very difficult for some families this year.

During the Christmas shopping frenzy, it is easy for people, even well-to-do ones, to get in over their heads trying to create the perfect Christmas for their families. And, while the unemployment rate has improved slightly, there are lots of people without jobs or working on reduced wages. Those families are struggling just to pay the rent, keep the lights and heat turned on, and buy groceries.
It may be a tough lesson for some, but this would be the perfect time to teach children (and adults) they can have a joyful Christmas with just a few presents under the tree and more importantly, the gift of spending time together.

But, no one likes to think of a child receiving no gifts or a family that has no special holiday meal. And, Santa's elves here in Monroe County are already hard at work, trying to make sure that doesn't happen.

Santa's Helpers accepted applications to help more than 900 children this week. This group takes applications and verifies people do indeed need help and that people are not taking advantage of the charity of others. Civic organizations, clubs and churches adopt the families and buy clothes and toys for the children. Monday is the last day Santa's Helpers will be accepting applications. Families wanting to apply should go to the First United Methodist Church in Sweetwater from 1 to 5 p.m. Anyone wanting to become a Santa's Helper to buy gifts, can call 442-6109 or 337-7690.

This week Robert Hickey spoke to our Sweetwater Kiwanis Club about the Angel Food Program. For $30, you can buy enough food to feed a family of four for a week. The box of food includes meat, vegetables, fruit, pasta, cereal, eggs and other items. Robert said they had priced the food at the grocery store and it would cost more than $60 to buy the same amount of food. The Angel Food Program does not have any income requirements – it is open to everyone.

A special Thanksgiving box is packed with everything you would need for a holiday meal and costs $36. Robert challenged everyone in our club to buy one of these boxes and donate it to a family who may not otherwise have a Thanksgiving meal. If you would like to help with this challenge, call Greer Heatherly at the First United Methodist Church in Sweetwater, 337-7903.

The Advocate & Democrat will be sponsoring a food drive in November and December. We will collect food at our Madisonville and Sweetwater offices to donate to Douglas Cherokee, Sweetwater Area Ministries and the Good Shepherd Center. Each person who brings in food will be entered in a drawing to win a free subscription. We will give away five subscriptions in November and five in December.

Let's all come together and help everyone have presents under their trees and food on their table.
editor@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101