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Annual Christmas giveaway helps hundreds
Several local agencies and volunteers came together at the Missouri National Guard Armory on West Cherry Street in Nevada on Tuesday, to help hundreds of Vernon County residents have a better Christmas.
The annual Christmas food giveaway sponsored by Community Outreach and other groups was once again a success, despite the gray, drizzly weather. Food was only one item that people who had signed up for the event could get while at the armory.
The crowd began to arrive early and by the time the first people were let in at 9:45, there was a long umbrella- covered line along Cherry Street. Many people had no umbrella but they had laundry baskets, personal shopping baskets, plastic totes, or a cardboard box, but all went away with the makings of a better holiday season.
Nearly 50 volunteers were needed to pull of the big giveaway. Community Outreach provided a variety of foodstuffs to 182 families, according to director Barbara Long. Each of those families received a ham, bread or rolls, fresh fruit, canned goods, peanut butter, milk, sugar and other foods. Many of those families also received toys and some of them were given coats.
The Vernon County Ambulance District holds its toy drive giveaway at the same time each year. In its 24th year, the VCAD toy drive has provided toys to thousands of Vernon County kids over the years. This year was no exception. After the doors of the armory had opened, Jeri Senkevech said that the VCAD list had 477 children on it and was "still going up."
The Lions Club was on hand to provide bags of different items for those signed up for the Teen Angel program. According to club member Cory Johnson, the club managed to put together bags for 132 local teens. The festive bags contained many different things. Some bags had personal items in them, some had toys other had clothing or a mix of gifts. The teens signed up for the program could request what they wanted in their bag, said Johnson.
Other coat or blanket drives have been conducted for this event in the past, and this a load of coats was brought in by Gina Ensor, director of the Nevada/Vernon County Area Chamber of Commerce. The coats came from community members who wanted to do something to help, she said. In all, Ensor said they gave away about 30 coats. Not bad for a first year, but Ensor said she is already working on doing more next year.
All of those organizations had several of their own volunteers. The Salvation Army also has a hand in the yearly event.
The Nevada Rotary Club had some people on hand to help with moving people through the lines. The Nevada High School Student Council showed up in force to handle all of that food. Sponsor Deidre Bruce said part of the student organization's role is to helpgather the food donated to the high school food drive each year, boxing it and "getting it here."
The 27 student council members at the armory lined up their shopping carts and when given the name and number of family members of an individual, they pushed their cart around a U shaped group of table stacked with food while other members loaded the basket with goods. When the basket was full, the students pushed it to a waiting automobile for anyone who wanted that service.
The organization of this event is daunting, but the dedication, cooperation and hard work of the groups and individuals involved kept the lines moving smoothly and went a long way toward making Christmas a happier occasion for many in the city and county, organizers said.