ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 6, 1996 TAG: 9612060008
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-13 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
The New River Valley has many Christmas charities that help the less fortunate in our communities. And the valley also has many generous people who want to help others during the holiday season. These are organizations that could use your help in providing food, gifts and clothes for those in need.
Organization: The Salvation Army Corps, 525 W. Commerce St., Pulaski
Contact: Susan Watson or Bob Mullins
Call: 980-2400
Project name: Montgomery County Christmas Store, P.O. Box 221, Blacksburg, Va. 24063
Purpose: to assist needy families at Christmas
Number of people served: 1,367 families assisted in 1995
Needs: new and good used clothing, toys, household and gift items, as well as volunteer help
Contact: Joyce Hendricks
Drop-off location: 1655 Roanoke St., Christiansburg
Call: 951-2188
Organization: Modern Woodmen of America, Junior Service Club
Purpose: donations to the Salvation Army
Needs: canned and boxed nonperishable food items
Contact: Karita Knisely
Call: 994-9822
Project name: Empty Stocking Fund
Purpose: Christmas gifts for the needy
Number of people served: 300 children in the Radford area
Needs: monetary donations and new toys
Contact: make checks payable to: The Empty Stocking Fund. Mail to: P.O. Box 926, Radford, Va. 24141
Call: Jim Durham, 639-0308
Project name: Radford Elf Shelf
Purpose: to provide new Christmas toys to needy families within the city of Radford
Number of people served: More than 300 children each Christmas
Needs: new toys, books and monetary contributions
Contact: Kent Taylor
Drop-off location: First Baptist Church, corner of Third Avenue and Downey Street
Call: 639-4419
Project name: 1996 Operation Santa Claus
Sponsor: Mental Health Association of the New River Valley
Purpose: Christmas gift boxes to patients at Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute, Marion
Needs: Gifts for individual patients ($35 per patient) or monetary donations
Contact: Paula Denton, 382-5629 or Leesa Miller, 382-0630
Organization: Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry
Purpose: ongoing daily assistance to feed the hungry
Number of people served: an average of 192 families a month during 1995
Needs: all contributions of canned food and other nonperishable items such as cereal and peanut butter
Contact: Alice Wills
Drop-off location: Blacksburg Baptist Church, 550 N. Main St.
Call: 552-0806
Organization: New River Agency for Persons with Mental Retardation/Leisure Directions,
funded by the United Way and other contributions in the community
Purpose: to provide educational, social, and recreational activities throughout the year to children and adults with mental retardation in the New River Valley
Number of people served: 175 persons
Needs: contributions and volunteers
Contact: Sheila Roop
Drop-off location: 16 E. Main St., Christiansburg
Call: 381-0310
Project name: Holiday Charity Drive
Organization: Blacksburg Day Care and Child Development Center
Purpose: to support the Montgomery County Christmas Store, the Women's Shelter, the Stork Exchange, and the Community Food Bank
Needs: new and used children's books and toys, used baby clothing and equipment, nonperishable food items and blankets
Contact: Barbara Pack, Yvette Murphy
Drop-off location: 844 University City Blvd., Blacksburg
Call: 951-8868
Organization: Student Government Association at New River Community College
Project name: Angel Tree
Purpose: gifts for children of NRCC students. Names to be chosen by today.
Needs: new Christmas toys and gifts. To be delivered to drop-off location by Dec. 11.
Contact: Ben Kramer, student activities counselor
Drop-off location: Student Activities Office, 123 Martin Hall, New River Community College, Dublin
Call: 674-3600, ext. 431
Organization: Student Government Association at New River Community College
Project name: charity drive for Pulaski County Humane Society
Purpose: to help homeless animals
Needs: blankets, dog and cat food, pet toys
Contact: Ben Kramer, student activities counselor
Drop-off location: Student Activities Office, 123 Martin Hall, New River Community College, Dublin. Send donations to: P. O. Box 1046, Dublin, Va. 24084.
Call: 674-9373
Organization: Student Government Association at New River Community College
Project name: Self-Help and Resource Exchange (S.H.A.R.E.) food unit purchases
Purpose: food for needy families in the New River Valley
Needs: monetary donations ($14 per unit per month)
Contact: Ben Kramer, student activities counselor
Drop-off location: Host site: Student Activities Office, 123 Martin Hall, New River Community College, Dublin
Call: 674-3600, ext. 431
Other groups who are helping others during the holidays include Bruce Brown's management class at New River Community College. The class divided into groups to collect food for the needy. One group collected 83 percent of their goal of 1000 cans of food in only 11 days, and they are still taking donations, far surpassing their goal.
Tuck Chiropractic Clinics continue their annual Holiday "Giving" Days, collecting canned foods and cash donations for the Salvation Army in lieu of some of the usual charges for their services.
If your local charity or organization was not included in this listing, please send us the information for next year's publication. Contact Mary Lou Bruton, New River Current, Roanoke Times, P. O. Box 540, Christiansburg 24073.
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