HANCOCK COUNTY — Gift giving and receiving is commonplace at Christmastime, but Kim Hall knows not everyone is lucky enough to receive a gift each year.
As director of Mental Health Partners of Hancock County, she oversees the annual Gift Lift initiative — collecting, wrapping and distributing gifts to nursing home and group home residents and other home-bound individuals that might not otherwise receive a present.
On Wednesday, Nov. 30, volunteers gathered at Hall’s office on the first floor of the Memorial Building in Greenfield to sort and wrap gifts that have been donated by the community. Monetary donations are used to purchase personal care items like toothbrushes and hair care products, so that boxes of items can be delivered to residents in need throughout Hancock County.
Gift Lift dates back to the 1960s, when the program was created to provide gifts to patients at the state mental hospitals. When the state closed the hospitals, patients were moved to nursing homes and group homes, where they continue to receive gifts through Gift Lift each year at Christmas.
Hall said the local Gift Lift program will serve 300 residents this year.
Mental Health Partners is one of many Hancock County organizations that work diligently to provide for those who might otherwise go without during the holidays. Below is a list of organizations and how individuals can help this year:
DAY OF LOVE AND CARING
The mission: To provide toys, clothes, shoes and hot meals for families in need on Christmas Eve through a giveaway hosted by God’s Open Arms Ministry, the Hancock County Ag Association. Journey Bags of Hancock County and Changing Footprints.
What’s needed: Toys and gifts for newborns through teens, including toys, books, puzzles, coloring books and gift cards
Where the donations go: Families are invited to pick up meals and hand-select gifts between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 24 at the fairgrounds while children visit with Santa. One adult should come to visit Santa with the kids while a second adult “shops” for gifts. About 500 families were served last year.
How to get involved: Donate money or requested items or sign up to volunteer. Donations can be dropped off between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays (through 4 p.m. Thursdays) at Family Auto Repair, 201 E. North St. in Greenfield, through Dec. 16.
Volunteers are needed to sort toys from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 22-23 at the Hancock County Fairgrounds, and to help with the giveaway from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 24. Sign up at SignUpGenius.com/go/10c0c44abac2fa1f8c70-christmas.
For more information, call event coordinator Peggy Couch at (317) 339-8015.
GIFT LIFT
The mission: Mental Health Partners of Hancock County will provide gifts of clothing or essential household items to isolated senior citizens and residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each person served by the program will receive a box containing personal care items.
What’s needed: Money, volunteers and personal care items, such as toothbrushes and hairbrushes.
Where the donations go: Officials from Mental Health Partners deliver gifts to all recipients, many of whom live in group homes or assisted-living facilities.
How to get involved: Donations can be dropped off to the Mental Health Partners office at the Memorial Building, 98 E. North St., Suite 204, Greenfield, during office hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call the office at (317) 462-2877 for more information or for specific gift requests.
Greenfield Santa’s Helpers
The mission: Santa’s Helpers is operated locally by Greenfield Sertoma, a community-service organization. Members of the group round up donations to help families in need purchase clothing for their children at Christmastime.
What’s needed: Money
Where the donations go: Families referred by the Hancock County Christmas Connection program are given money to spend on clothing for their children, at special shopping events Dec. 10 and 13. Sertoma draws from their club’s sponsorship fund, so 100 percent of donations go to families in need. Club members expect to spend over $15,000 through Santa’s Helpers this year.
How to get involved: Individuals can mail checks to:
Santa’s Helpers
P.O. Box 43
Greenfield, IN 46140
Hancock County Christmas Connection
The mission: Greenfield-Central Schools and local nonprofits are working together to make Christmas a little brighter for children within the school system.
Toys for Tots of Hancock County, Love INC of Greater Hancock County, Santa’s Helpers, and the Greenfield police and Hancock County sheriff’s department work together to match families with individual sponsors or community resources.
What’s needed: Money or gift cards for gasoline, grocery stores or restaurants.
Where the donations go: Any donations will be put toward helping qualifying families provide Christmas gifts to their children.
How to get involved: Donations of gift cards or toys can be dropped off during school hours at Weston Elementary, 140 Polk St. in Greenfield, through Dec. 23.
Program coordinator Terry Miller said the deadline is drawing near for families to register to receive help, by reaching out to their child’s school counselor. Healthy Families will also be accepting applications from their clients. Families with young children not yet in school or enrolled with Healthy Families should contact Love INC at (317) 468-6300.
For more information, contact Miller at (317) 462-1492.
SALVATION ARMY’S RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN
The mission: The Red Kettle Campaign is The Salvation Army’s only annual fundraiser. Volunteer bell ringers take up posts outside storefronts in Greenfield and New Palestine, spreading holiday cheer and seeking donations from passers-by.
What’s needed: Money, volunteers
Where the donations go: All money collected in Hancock County stays in Hancock County. About 70 percent of the donations are used to assist individuals and families in financial emergencies; 20 percent is used to fund local nursing home programs, children’s summer camps and school supplies distributions; and the remaining 10 percent covers operational costs.
How to get involved: Bell ringers will be stationed in front of the Greenfield Kroger and Walmart as well as the Needler’s Fresh Market (formerly Marsh) in New Palestine until Christmas Eve. Volunteers commit to at least a one-hour shift, with weekend and weekday opportunities available.
To become a bell-ringer, visit registertoring.com.
Donations may be dropped into any Red Kettle or mailed to:
Salvation Army Hancock County
c/o Brandywine Community Church
1551 East New Road
Greenfield, IN 46140
TOYS FOR TOTS
The mission: Toys for Tots raises funds to provide toys to children whose families can’t afford to spend money on gifts. The organization distributes the items to families in the days leading up to Christmas.
What’s needed: New toys
Where the donations go: Families who qualify receive age-appropriate gifts to give to their children.
How to get involved: Dozens of local businesses, schools and churches have boxes to collect donations, but new toys can also be dropped off at any Greenfield-Central school building during school hours by Dec. 8. For information, contact Aleesha Broadus at (317) 462-4491, ext. 41206.
TWISTED TOYS
The mission: Local car club Twisted Koncepts’ nonprofit organization, the Twisted Foundation, supplies back-to-school supplies and Christmas gifts to families and shelters in need.
The foundation hosts an annual toy and clothing drive featuring a live auction and raffle each December.
What’s needed: Toys and children’s clothing
Where the donations go: Toys and clothes are delivered to Alternatives, a domestic violence shelter serving Indiana residents, which distributes the toys at Christmas, birthdays and other special occasions.
How to get involved: Drop off donations at the Hancock County Fairgrounds, 620 Apple St. in Greenfield, between noon and 4 p.m. Dec. 10 in the goat barn.
For more information, call Dan Davis at (765) 993-4898 or Lenny Thompson at (317) 945-5873.
