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Community Corner

Lend Your Holiday Helping Hands

Ok you've eaten a great meal, why not get out and make a difference in the world. Crofton, here's your chance to help out over the holidays. Share your generosity with one or more of the following nonprofits dedicated to those in need.

Help a family in need share a memorable holiday meal, give gifts to their loved ones and wear warm clothes this winter. Help the organizations that assist those in need in Anne Arundel County at this special time of year by donating your time, or assisting with needed food, clothing, or by making a monetary donation.

Fay Mauro, executive director of the Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County, said that help is needed not only during the holidays —but all year long.

"Make a commitment to volunteer at least four more times in the new year. The agency you are working with will be grateful and you will know that you have truly made an impact," Mauro said. "In thinking how you and your family want to celebrate the holidays, you may discover new talents and interests in the process."

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"The Great Recession and its aftermath have imposed severe burdens on our
local nonprofits and the communities they serve. Many nonprofits are
struggling while individuals and families hurt by the economic slump are
seeking increased services from nonprofits," she said. 

Here's a list of organizations to get you started:

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This holiday homeless drive delivers warm clothing to homeless shelters in the Baltimore Washington region on Christmas Eve. Ten to 15 volunteers are needed from Dec. 20-23 for collection days at the Farmers Market on the corner of Riva Road in Annapolis. To volunteer, emailinfo@HomelessDrive.com.  Sponsor a backpack or make a monetary donation on the website.

Donors are needed for the Holiday Sharing Program to help a family or senior citizen in Anne Arundel County with food for Thanksgiving (or a dinner and toys for children on Christmas in December). Volunteers can purchase and personally deliver food or make a cash donation. To sign up or find out more details, call the Holiday Sharing Office at 410-269-4462.

Project Linus is looking for volunteers to work on blanket projects the third Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon at the  623 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. Volunteers can be as young as 8 years old but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian if under 14 years of age. For more information, call Sabrina at 443-254-6845 or 410-956-4616 or email AnneArundel.MD@projectlinus.org.

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SPAN of Severna Park, located at 400 Benfield Road, next to  and serving Anne Arundel County, can always use help in stocking and organizing the food pantry. Currently, the following items are needed:

Boxed instant potatoes, boxed rice, spaghetti sauce, canned meats, beef stew, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, pancake mix and syrup, canned fruit, cake mixes and frosting, pork and beans, peas, snacks such as individual potato chips, cookies, pretzels, snack bars, pudding and Jello cups.

Currently there is an abundance of canned soups, corn and all varieties of other beans.

The "Elect to End Hunger" program continues by providing those in need with holiday food boxes. Each box is $17.50 and filled with traditional holiday favorites like sweet potatoes, applesauce, corn, cranberry sauce, gravy, green beans, kale, mac and cheese, stuffing, potatoes and corn muffin mix. Fill-out a donation form to provide a family with a meal for the holidays.

Adopt a family for the holidays. Use the online form to make a donation or call 410-397-8942 for information on adopting a family.

SCAN is in need of volunteers to stock shelves and fill food bags on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Call Dottie Fender (Volunteer Scheduler) at 301-261-5265 or Bee & Bob Hobbs at 301-855-5269.

Harvest of Plenty Program, through Nov. 18, volunteers with excellent customer service skills are needed to respond to calls from low-income individual and families who are calling to participate in the Harvest of Plenty program. Many families are struggling to make ends meet during these difficult economic times. United Way of Central Maryland (UWCM) is helping 2,500 families in need get a turkey and healthy sides for Thanksgiving dinner. Volunteers will receive a one-hour training. Volunteers should commit to two hours once a week during the three-week program. 

Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization, was formed as an extension of the Arlington Wreath Project started at Arlington Cemetery in 1992. Last year, Annapolis National Cemetery received more than 800 donated wreaths from individuals, organizations and businesses. The wreath laying ceremony welcomed more than 80 volunteers. There are approximately 3,000 graves at Annapolis National Cemetery and the goal this year is to have a wreath for each gravesite when they are delivered on Dec. 10 at noon.

Wreath donations are being sought. Sponsoring a wreath costs $15; designate the wreath to the Annapolis National Cemetery by entering location ID code MDANCM (no Group ID# needed) on the WAA website. The deadline for wreath donation to be placed this holiday season is Wed.Nov. 23. To learn more, email Kristina Seidel of Davidsonville.

The Volunteer Center of Anne Arundel County has other volunteer opportunities to consider for the holidays and beyond.

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