COLUMBIA - A local volunteer center is helping residents give back to the community by allowing them to adopt a family this holiday season.
Cindy Mustard and the Voluntary Action Center think Christmas should last more than one day.
"I like to think we do Christmas all year," said Mustard.
But the organization's biggest program, Adopt-A-Family, takes place once a year.
"Four thousand folks that come from all walks of life. I mean we've got the disabled, the elderly, and lots of kids and families to help at Christmas time," said Mustard.
The center pairs sponsors with families for whom they collect and donate Christmas gifts.
The MU Student Athlete Advisory Committee is a sponsor for this year's program.
"They're hurting and they need help with things, and some people are just down on times. We as athletes are blessed, you know, get our school paid for, and we're getting this big per diem check, and I figured we could help out a lot of people by doing this," said MU football player Kurtis Gregory.
And the sponsoring spreads beyond the MU campus.
The downtown headquarters of Boone County National Bank is also sponsoring a family.
"It's really important for each business to go out and contribute to every program, and the Adopt-A-Family program is something we're really excited about," said Boone County National Bank employee Ashley Thompson.
For two weeks in December, ten rooms inside the Trinity Presbyterian Church will be stacked to the ceiling with thousands of items for the Adopt-A-Family program.
The last of the families has just found sponsors. Those sponsors have the next four weeks to collect their gifts.
The Trinity Presbyterian Church will collect items starting Dec. 8.
SUGGESTED ITEMS: Gift Certificates: Mall, Music Store, Shoe Store, Movie Theater, Grocer Store
Children's Items:
Books, Board Games, Puzzles, Card Games, Arts and Crafts Kits, Jewelry/Bead Sets, Cars, Trucks, Basketballs, Footballs, Soccer Balls, Lego Sets, Lincoln Logs, Barbie Dolls, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Doll Accessories, Easy Bake Oven, Fisher-Price, Little Einstein, Playskool, Bob the Builder, Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer, Viggie Tales, Coloring Books, Crayons, Markers, Diaries, Wall-E movie items, Disney/Pixar movie items, Hats, Gloves, Mittens, Scarves.
Teen Items:
Makeup, Jewelry (Necklace/Earrings/Bracelet), Watches, Cameras, Perfume, Bath and Body Works items, Photo Albums, Scrapbook kits, Stationary, CDs & DVDs, Sports Equipment, Team Memorabilia/Clothing (Mizzou).
Household Items:
Towels, Washcloths, Dish Cloths, Hand Soap, Dish Soap, Blankets, Sheets, Pots & Pans, Mixers, Blenders, Coffee POts, Irons, Powdered Laundry Detergent, Cleaning Supplies (no liquids), Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Kleenex, Napkins, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Deodorant, Shampoo.
DROP OFF:
Bring all items collected to the Trinity Presbyterian Church at 1600 W. Rollins Road.
Collections will take place on December 8, 9, 15 and 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Contact the Voluntary Action Center with any questions at (573)-874-2273.
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