This is the time of year when food pantries and charities are usually stretched to the limit, finding stocks of food running low and more people in need of a good meal now more than ever.
This is also the time of year when the citizens of Cleburne County open their wallets and their hearts to ensure more of their neighbors have a happy season.
There are several organizations sponsoring events in the area to help gather food and toys for those less fortunate in the county.
One of the events is the Third Annual Cleburne County Santa Run happening tomorrow. The Sun-Times, Red River Dodge, Dollar General of Heber Springs, Drasco Trading Post, The Print Shop, and the local Star Chapter 382 are sponsoring the food and toy drive.
The cost to participate is one non-perishable food item and one unwrapped toy. The toys and food will help the kids in Cleburne County.
Participants in the Santa Run will meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Drasco Trading Post and leave at 11. Donations will be dropped off at Red River Dodge around noon. If you have a non-perishable food item and an unwrapped toy, but you don’t want to participate in the Santa Run, you can meet the group at Red River Dodge around noon to drop off your items.
For more information about this event, call 870-668-3040.
The Greers Ferry Optimist Club is ready for their Christmas project called Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. They are asking for financial assistance so they can make sure to buy what is needed.
The donations will help with the purchase of Christmas gifts for less fortunate children in the area. Lend a helping hand and donate what you can. Make the check payable to Optimist Toy Fund and mail it to Cay Jones, 335 Bondair Road, Higden, AR 72067. If you would like to personally deliver your donation, please take it to the Heber Springs State Bank in Greers Ferry.
Margie’s Haven House in Heber Springs is sponsoring their Third Annual Wishing Tree. The deadline to fulfill wishes of the women and children is December 10. For more information about the Wishing Tree, call Trudy at 501-362-6757.
The most notable charitable organization in Cleburne County, Cleburne County Cares, is looking for help with their annual Christmas Project. According to CCC, they expect to provide Christmas for approximately 350 to 375 children and 30 to 35 senior citizens this season. The program is celebrating its 22nd year.
According to Cares, children birth to 12 in Cleburne County are eligible for the program along with the forgotten indigent elderly residents who have no family to provide for them at Christmas time.
Their press release reads, “Each child is given new clothes, toys, games, family activity items, candies, a book telling the Story of Christmas and other books, plus dental hygiene items, and much more. Senior citizens are provided with sleepwear and toiletries. The recipients are carefully screened to determine true need. Every effort is made to see that Christmas items are provided for each child.
“Applications are available at the Cleburne County Cares office and must be turned in at the office by Wednesday, December 9. No applications will be accepted after that date.
“This is a real opportunity for the community to help provide a nice and meaningful Christmas for children and elderly persons who have special needs. We all know that Christmas is for kids - please help us to make it special for those in need this year.
“Many willing hands and much financial help are required to make this successful.”
If you can help with a monetary donation, please mail it to or drop it off at Cleburne County Cares, 2016 Hwy 25 B North, Heber Springs, AR 72543.
Sears in Heber Springs is holding their fourth annual food drive. The drive will benefit food banks and non-profit organizations in the area.
They are looking for donations of canned and boxed non-perishable food items through the end of the year.
“We welcome the opportunity to host this event again,” said Marty Kozar, CMO/DVP for
Sears Hometown Stores. “We feel privileged to join in a local effort to lend a hand to those experiencing hardship in our communities, and want to encourage our customers to open their hearts and their cupboards to this initiative.”
Kozar said customers are encouraged to drop non-perishable canned and boxed food items as well as other needed products, such as diapers, paper towels, handy wipes, latex gloves, etc. in the donation boxes located at on Hwy 25 B North in Heber Springs during regular business hours. The donations will be distributed to local food banks and food pantries.
The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance is holding their Fifth Annual Spirit of Giving Drive through December 18.
US Bank in Heber Springs will compete with other US Bank branches in Arkansas for the "Spirit of Community" award.
According to their press release, all donated food will stay in the local community for immediate distribution to the needy through Alliance members. Their partner organization is Cleburne County Cares.
"Let there be no mistake, hunger touches every community in our state, and affects friends and neighbors. An estimated 1 in 6 Arkansans doesn't know from where they will get their next meal," according to Rhonda Sanders, Executive Director of the Alliance.
According to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, the US Department of Agriculture ranks Arkansas as having the fourth highest incidence of hunger in the nation, and the numbers of hungry Arkansans continues to grow.
“The items most needed by the food banks include canned meats, canned/packaged meals, peanut butter, cereal, soups, canned vegetables, canned fruits, 100% juices, pasta and pasta sauces. For safety reasons, items packaged in glass are not preferred.”
A complete listing of food collection sites and times can be found on the Alliance website: www.ARhungeralliance.org.
Jayson Jones Ford is having their Third Annual Jayson Jones Ford Fill a Ford Toy Drive. New toys or gifts can be dropped off at the dealership during regular business hours. The toys and gifts will be distributed to children in Cleburne County.
The Cove Creek Fire Department has been hosting a food drive. They are accepting food donations through December 15. For more information call April Chism at 501-589-5373.
The ASU- Heber Springs Rotaract Club is sponsoring a Toys for Tots toy drive at the campus. They will be collecting toys Monday, December 7 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
New toys can be dropped off on the first floor of the admissions building.
Cleburne County, Ark. —
