Sign-ups for Christmas help to start soon

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November 25, 2012

Sign-ups for Christmas help to start soon

By BRAD KELLAR Herald-Banner Staff The Herald-Banner Sun Nov 25, 2012, 06:00 AM CST

GREENVILLE — Sign-ups begin Monday for Hunt County Gives, a countywide effort to assist needy families during the Christmas season.

Hunt County Shared Ministries (FISH) is one of 21 charities, service organizations and businesses who are participating in the program, with the emphasis this year on assisting families in need.

The goal of the drive is to assist 1,200 families across Hunt County, with one food basket per family.

The sign-ups will be conducted Monday through Friday at Crossroads Mall, 6834 Wesley Street in Greenville, between 9 a.m. and noon and also from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Applications will be taken December 3-7 at the FISH headquarters, 2805 King Street.

All families seeking assistance MUST bring photo identification, a current lease agreement and a current utility bill that matches the address on the registration card. Officials are also advising that families can come any day during the two weeks, and not just on Monday.

Along with FISH, Hunt County Gives includes Hands of Compassion, Twelve Overflowing Baskets, Because We Care Food Pantry, First United Methodist Church in Commerce, Aldersgate Church in Greenville, the Salvation Army, the United Way of Hunt County, the Greenville Kiwanis Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Greenville Noon and Daybreak Rotary Clubs, the Altrusa Club, L-3 Mission Integration, Crossroads Mall, Home Depot, GEUS, Brookshire’s in Greenville, Wal-Mart in Greenville, Super One in Greenville and Sav-A-Lot.

Hunt County Gives is also hoping to “Fill The Float” during the City of Greenville Christmas Parade on December 7. Those attending the parade are being asked to bring a bag of canned goods. Volunteers will collect the bags from the crowd and place it on the Hunt County Gives Float as it proceeds through the parade.

Volunteers will man an assembly line on the evenings of Dec. 18-20 on the loading dock behind the GEUS David McCalla Building on Wesley Street, to assemble and fill the hundreds of baskets for needy families.

The baskets will be distributed to pre-registered families on Dec. 22.

Those wanting more information, or who may want to make a donation or volunteer to assist with Hunt County Gives can call 903-455-0545 or email jbays@hcsmfish.org.