12/08/10 Faced with nearly 500 applications for assistance with food and gifts for children, Sarah Hendrix of the Marshall County Neighborhood Center has been working full-time to meet the needs, but is pleading with the community to adopt families for the holidays. According to Hendrix, several groups formed a Community Christmas Coalition this year to reach out to those in need. She said, “We have taken applications at the Center and combined them with lists from the schools, Boys and Girls Club, churches, and Leadership Marshall County.”

Hendrix said they have found sponsors for 150 families and the Neighborhood Center can provide for another 100 families, but there are still many needs to be filled.

Hendrix said sponsors can shop for and deliver gifts and food to a family themselves or simply donate items or monetary gifts to the Center. She said, “We are hoping that people will provide both needs and wishes so every child in Marshall County will have at least one gift to open at Christmas.”

This Saturday, downtown Plymouth businesses will be holding a new clothing collection site in front of the Marshall County Historical Museum. Jim Vinall, one of the event organizers, said they will be accepting donations of clothing for infants through high school age.

Vinall said volunteers from the staff of the Pilot News will be manning the truck for the donations while many of the downtown merchants have pledged a percentage of their sales to purchase additional items. He said, “We will gladly accept food as well.”

Vinall said they are grateful for advertising furnished by the Pilot News and posters designed and printed by Bowen Printing. WTCA am1050 radio will be promoting the collection all during the week. 

Hendrix said they are continuing to compare lists of applicants with other organizations to alleviate duplications. She said, “We can pretty much guarantee that applications won’t be duplicated.”

For more information or to sponsor a family, call the Marshall County Neighborhood Center at 936-3388.

Carol Anders Correspondent