It’s been a tough year. For those with limited means in the metro, the pandemic and then the early ice storm has caused hardships probably unimaginable for most of us.
This year, more than ever, your help is needed to make the holidays a little bit brighter for some of our neighbors who are experiencing hardships. If you have children, enlist their help. One way to do this might be to ask them if, this year, some of the family’s Christmas budget should instead be directed to help out others in the community. Make giving a part of the family’s holiday tradition, starting this year.
We’ve compiled a listing of some of the organizations that help children, teens, adults and families in Cleveland County. It’s not a complete listing, by any means; many churches, nonprofits and businesses hold drives for toys, food, clothing and more during the holiday season. This magazine also features nonprofits all year round in our Giving Back column.
CHRISTMAS STORE OF CLEVELAND COUNTY
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Christmas Store of Cleveland County, which has offered low-income families in Cleveland County the opportunity to receive free food and gifts over the yuletide for over a half century, will be accepting monetary donations only this year. To donate online, visit Christmas-Store.org. Or, checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 256, Norman, OK 73070-0256.
FOOD & SHELTER
Food & Shelter is a United Way agency founded in 1983 by a group of compassionate members of McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church that helps individuals and families throughout the year, not just over the holidays.
For Christmas, Food & Shelter will be providing prepared family-style meals for pick up the week before, as well as hot meals for families of three or fewer members that will be delivered on Christmas day, and a holiday grocery box option, which can be obtained for the number of people in the household the week before the holiday. Their in-person meal on Christmas Day will be held at First Baptist Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The organization is always in need of volunteers, financial assistance and donations of food and nonfood items. Visit FoodandShelterInc.org for details.
Pantry Partners
Pantry Partners, Inc. is a local nonprofit community outreach organization dedicated to fighting childhood chronic hunger and teen homelessness. Through community sponsorships, Pantry Partners this year will provide Christmas gifts for an estimated 100 underserved teens, reports Angela Jimenez-Calhoun, managing director.
Donations can be made several ways: via Venmo @Pantry-Partners, Facebook @pantrypartnersnorman, PantryPartners.org or by mailing a check to Pantry Partners Inc., 517 West Gray St., Norman, OK 73069. Please email pantrypartnersnorman@gmail.com for more information or if you would like to sponsor a teen for Christmas.
Little Read Wagon
On the gift questionnaire that Pantry Partners gives to students at Norman High School, there’s a question asking what type of books, authors or specific books the student would like to receive. That’s where Little Read Wagon comes in.
“We are partnering with Pantry Partners to provide a book for each student that will be receiving holiday gifts from the Pantry Partners program,” said Lisa Gerard, a regular volunteer with Pantry Partners. “It’s estimated that 61% of children from low-income homes do not have a single book in their home. Little Read Wagon is dedicated to increasing book and literacy access in underserved populations and communities. One of the ways we can do this during the holidays is to partner with other nonprofits like Pantry Partners to give the gift of book ownership to students who may otherwise not have books available to them.”
Volunteers are sought to adopt a park and hide books. FMI and to volunteer: message Lisa on the Little Read Wagon Facebook page @LittleReadWagon; send an email to LittleReadWagon20@gmail.com; or text 601.667.9151. For more information, visit LittleReadWagonOK.com.