Because many of our friends and neighbors struggle financially every day, there are many charities that work hard to help people in need. Here’s a list of local nonprofits that have additional needs for the holidays.
Acworth Police Department Christmas Shoppe
www.acworthpolice.org
Every year, the Acworth Police Department invites parents in need to come and select holiday gifts for their children at the station’s Christmas Shoppe. The community can assist the Christmas Shoppe by donating new, unwrapped toys and clothes for school-aged children. Donations can be dropped off at the police department anytime before Dec. 19. There also will be collection bins at Henry’s Louisiana Grill (4835 N. Main St.) and Huey Luey’s Mexican Kitchen and Margarita Bar (3338 N. Cobb Parkway). 770-974-1232, Ext. 1115.
Cobb Christmas Stuff-A-Bus
Santa’s sleigh looks a lot like a CobbLinc bus this Christmas! Stuff-A-Bus is Cobb’s most memorable and unique holiday program. Help brighten the holidays for local children in need by donating new toys, food or monetary contributions to Cobb Christmas. Cobb Christmas is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization, dedicated to helping low-income families in our county during the holiday season. It is run 100% by volunteers, so all donations go directly to help the community. Cobb Christmas provides a minimum of three age-appropriate toys to each child, ages infant through 15. Families go through a qualification process. Drop off donations at any of the Stuff-A-Bus scheduled stops Dec. 10-12. The bus will be at the Acworth Health Park 9:30-10 a.m. Dec. 11. To find a stop near you, visit www.cobbchristmas.net/stuff-a-bus.
Cobb Senior Services
www.cobbcounty.org
There are several opportunities to contribute to the Cobb Senior Services programs. Financial donations are accepted year-round for the Senior Care or Meals on Wheels programs, in addition to the Senior Santa program. Tax-deductible donations are used to assist Cobb County seniors in need of meals, transportation, emergency assistance, utilities and more. The annual Senior Santa program benefits current clients who are homebound. 770-528-5368.
Goshen Valley Foundation
www.goshenvalley.org
The holidays are a difficult time for foster children not living with their families. Goshen Valley Boys Ranch attempts to provide a memorable Christmas experience for foster children with the help of the community. This includes building traditions, talking about the true meaning of Christmas, and fulfilling some of the young people’s wants and needs through gift giving to teach them that they are loved. With 42 youths to purchase gifts for, Goshen relies on the generosity of the community in order to fulfill these wishes. A list of gifts has been compiled on Amazon through a Charity Wishlist. Those desiring to help can visit: http://goshenwishlist.org and click Christmas list, or can email Stacy Cooper, executive director, at scooper@goshenvalley.org or call 770-796-4618.
The Hope Box
www.TheHopeBox.org
The Hope Box, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing abandoned babies and toddlers, needs donations of gift cards to Walmart, CVS and Target to cover the costs of car seats and other needs of mothers and infants in crisis. Mail gift cards to 3330 Cobb Parkway, Suite 324/180, Acworth, GA 30101. For more information, call 770-765-6301.
Hope Center
www.hopectr.com
The pregnancy diagnosis and support center can use donations of new, unwrapped toys for children up to age 18 for the Christmas toy closet. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 11 at the HOPE Center, 295 Molly Lane, Suite 120, Woodstock. 770-924-0864.
KSU CARE Center
http://care.kennesaw.edu
The Campus Awareness, Resource & Empowerment (CARE) Services office offers support to students who have experienced homelessness, food insecurity and/or the foster care system. Donations of food for the pantry and monetary donations to the scholarship can make a huge difference in the life of a student. There is a wish list to help students at Christmas. For details, contact CARE at careservices@kennesaw.edu or 470-KSU-5260.
MUST
www.mustministries.org
The Cobb County nonprofit provides food, housing, employment and clothing assistance to individuals in distress. Clients are invited to visit the toy shop; donations are needed to stock those shelves. Donations are needed of new, unwrapped toys, stuffed animals, puzzles, board games, electronics, books, dolls, sports equipment, T-shirts, underwear, hats, coats and gloves. Email ToyShop@mustministries.org for more information. Gifts also are welcome for teens and adults.
Papa’s Pantry/Encompass Ministries
https://papaspantry.org
Encompass Ministries and its food pantry offer year-round food and stability as well as life skills training assistance, Mondays-Saturdays. Special holiday needs: donations of turkeys, ham and nonperishable food items. A list of the top 10 food needs is kept up-to-date on the website. Tax-deductible donations also are accepted online at www.papaspantry.org. For more details, call 770-591-4730.
Simple Needs GA
www.simpleneedsga.org
Simple Needs GA’s Spirit of Christmas program helps school- and agency-referred families have the merry Christmas they deserve. Last year, the Marietta-based nonprofit brought brand-new presents and other useful items to 161 children. Volunteer opportunities include: buying requested presents; wrapping gifts; making deliveries; sorting and organizing; and more. For information, email brenda@simpleneedsga.org.
Trinity Rescue Inc.
www.trinityrescueinc.org
The nonprofit dedicated to rehabilitating and finding homes for abandoned, neglected and abused horses needs farm assistance with supplements and grooming supplies, like Cortaflex HA100 joint supplement, Omega Horseshine, Cowboy Magic-Conditioner/Detangler and ThrushX. Drop donations off at 5826 Forest Drive, Acworth. For more information, email info@trinityrescueinc.org.
Toys for Tots
www.toysfortots.org
Toys for Tots is a national program started by the Marine Corps. Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys to distribute to children in need during the holiday season as a way of spreading joy to the less fortunate. Below is a list of Toys for Tots collection sites in Acworth.
• American Legion Post 304, 4220 S. Main St., Acworth. Contact is George Tymchyshyn. Donations accepted through Dec. 20. 4-9 p.m.
• Cabella’s, 152 Northpoint Parkway, Acworth. Contact is Alexis Kinner. Donations accepted through Dec. 20, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Cobb County Parks, 3900 S. Main St., Acworth. Contact is Mark Kirk. Donations accepted through Dec. 20. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays; Noon-4 p.m. Sundays.
• Computers Plus, 3330 Cobb Parkway NW, Suite 154, Acworth. Contact is Katherine. Donations accepted through Dec. 20. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; Noon-5 p.m. Sundays.
• Midtown Tire, 2905 Regions Drive, Acworth. Contact is Kenny Stephens. Donations accepted through Dec. 20. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays.
• Pep Boys, 3638 Cobb Parkway N., Acworth. Contact is Maurice Haliburton. Donations accepted through Dec. 20. 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; 9 a.m.-7p.m. Sundays.
• Piedmont Residential, 121 Shoals Bridge Road, Acworth. Contact is Samantha Daugherty. Donations accepted through Dec. 20. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; 1-6 p.m. Sundays.
• Priority Realty Group LLC., 11 Waterbend Place, Acworth. Contact is Stephen Corrao. Donations accepted through Dec. 20. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Titlemax, 3934 Cobb Parkway, Acworth. Contact is Jessica Liggans. Donations accepted through Dec. 20. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.
Master drop sites include Publix Supermarkets (through Dec. 21), QuikTrip (through Dec. 21), Georgia State Patrol (through Dec. 18) and the Toys for Tots warehouse at 1730 Cumberland Point Drive, Suite 8, Marietta (Mondays and Saturdays).
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