BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – Helping Holidays is a charitable organization providing holiday meals and Christmas gifts to families and children in the Upper Ohio Valley.
They are asking for help from the community to help local families in need through their food and toy drive.
Helping Holidays is also accepting applications for food and Christmas gift assistance. The food assistance will provide a Thanksgiving meal and Christmas meal to needy families, while the Angel Tree will provide Christmas gift assistance to children ages newborn to 16.
If you would like to sign up to receive meals and/or put your child’s name off the tree, please call 740-298-5126. The cutoff date to sign up for or donate for Thanksgiving meals is Nov. 22. The cutoff date to sign up for or donate for Christmas meals and the Angel Tree is December 18.
Last year, organizers say they provided more than 60 holiday meals and Christmas gifts to nearly 30 children.
You can donate non-perishable food items at R Barber Shop or St. John’s Church in
Bellaire. To sponsor an Angel Tree child, stop in at the school, check in at the office and select a child from the tree. Then call 740-298-5126 to let Helping Holidays know that you have selected that child. Cash donations can also be made by calling that number.
Helping Holidays is also hosting two fundraisers to support their efforts. The first is the “Crafts and Coffee” event on November 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the St. John Church cafeteria on Tallman Avenue in Bellaire.
This “paint and sip” style event will offer specialty coffees, hot cocoa and cookies and feature a beginner-friendly “Winter Wonderland” painting. Cost is $35 per person and spots are limited. You must RSVP for this event and can do so by texting @gcae22 to 81010.
The second event is “Family and Me Christmas Crafts” on Dec. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at
St. John Church cafeteria in Bellaire. In addition to coffee, hot cocoa and cookies,
this family-geared event “paint and sip” style event will feature two activities: a canvas painting (The Grinch) and an ornament craft (both suitable for all ages). The cost for the canvas painting is $25 (two people) and the cost for the ornament craft is $25 (two people). You can register for both activities for $50 ($5 for each additional child). Spots are limited. You must RSVP for this event and can do so by texting @d2fg7f to 81010.
Both events will be taught by local artist Melissa Siber. All proceeds from the fundraisers, as well as any individual donations toward the programs, will be used to buy food and Christmas gifts for those who sign up for the Helping Holidays program.
For more information about Helping Holidays, visit their Facebook page or call 740-298-5126.
