'Tis the Season!

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Looking for Opportunities to Give Back During the Holiday Season? Below are a few programs that are spreading Holiday Cheer to children, seniors and others in need throughout Forsyth County.

UNITED WAY OF FORSYTH COUNTY 

770.781.4110

www.unitedwayforsyth.com

Give to United Way!  Make an impact on the lives of  thousands of people - both young and old - right here in our community.  Click here to donate.

YMCA HOLIDAY GIVING TREE FOR KIDS (HGTFK)

6050 Y Street
Cumming, GA 30040
678.341.6337
www.ymcaatlanta.org

HGTFK is organized thru the YMCA but made possible by a network of local businesses, corporations, churches and civic groups throughout Forsyth County. Volunteers are community servants sharing their time, talent and treasures to support the less fortunate in their community and express their care and concern for those surviving crisis or hardship.

Care team volunteers strive to provide relief to struggling families with youth by providing clothing, toys, school supplies and gifts of joy during the holiday season.

HGTFK brings hope and encouragement to children and families who, most of all, need to believe in a community that cares.

• Donations of toys and clothing will be accepted at All Forsyth County Fire Stations and the YMCA.
• For more information on sponsoring a family or to get a list of specific items needed, contact the YMCA at 678.341.6337.
• To Volunteer in Santa's Workshop, Contact Jerry Dupree at 678.341.6337.  Activities: Help unload and sort toys, bag toys/clothing using child's provided wish list and tag accordingly to be ready for pick up by children's parents. Help sort completed packages and keep them organized and locating packages when parents arrive for pick up.

TO REGISTER FOR CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE:

For a registration Form, contact the YMCA at 678.341.6337 or the Hill Education Center at 678.947.0274.  Or download a copy here.

Registration Forms can be dropped off at:

• • YMCA (6050 Y Street, Cumming 30040)
    • October 1 - November 21
    • Monday - Friday: 8:30am to 9:00pm; Saturday - 8:30am to 5:30pm and Sunday - 1:30pm to 5:30pm
  • Hill Education Center (136 Elm Street, Cumming 30040)
    • October 1 - November 15
    • Tuesday - Thursday - 8:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 4:00pm
      

THE PLACE OF FORSYTH COUNTY
2550 The Place Circle
Cumming, GA 30040
770.887.1098
www.theplaceofforsyth.org

Thanksgiving Food Box Distribution

This annual holiday food distribution provides needy residents with food for the week of Thanksgiving. Families will receive a box of food appropriate for their family size. They also receive a gift card to purchase a turkey/ham or other meat at a grocery store.

TO REGISTER FOR THANKSGIVING ASSISTANCE

• Registration is from October 1 - November 10 at The Place of Forsyth County.
• Food will be distributed on November 17 from 9:00am - 11:00am for families in Forsyth County.
• All families that are approved for Thanksgiving Cards will automatically qualify to apply for the YMCA Holiday Giving Tree for Kids. 

• Want to Volunteer? The Place needs groups to help sort and box food the week of November 12.  Call 770.887.1098 for more information.

Christmas Food Distribution

Food assistance will be available through the avenues below:

• Wednesday Noon Day Meals will be served each Wednesday through the month of December at The Place.  This assistance complements agency food program objectives to ensure that no one goes without food. Every Wednesday, a (hot) healthy meal is provided to 80-100 people.

FORSYTH COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES
Center at Charles Place
595 Dahlonega Highway
Cumming, GA 30040
770.781.2178

Holiday Gift Angels for Local Senior Citizens
Take time to spread the holiday spirit to local senior citizens by getting involved with the 2012 Holiday Gift Angels Program presented by Forsyth County Senior Services. Through this program, local residents and businesses have the chance to brighten the holiday season for our seniors and show they care.

TO DONATE & VOLUNTEER:

• The gift request tags from senior citizens are now available at the Senior Center at Charles Place, located on Dahlonega Highway next to the Cumming Library. Each gift request tag contains the name of a local senior citizen as well as a gift idea for him or her.
• Program participants may deliver the boxed and unwrapped gift with the gift request tag (or another tag with the senior's name and route number) attached to Forsyth County Senior Center at Charles Place.
• The Center's hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Volunteers are also needed to help wrap gifts and deliver them to home-bound clients.
  

Help Provide Meals to Local Seniors this Holiday Season
Help make the 2012 holiday season brighter for Forsyth County home-bound senior citizens with the Home-Delivered Meal Holiday Gift Certificate Program. Meals purchased with a holiday gift certificate through Forsyth County Senior Services will be delivered through the Meals on Wheels program.

TO DONATE & VOLUNTEER:

• Those interested in making a difference for local senior citizens this holiday season may choose to provide meals for a day, week, month or year. The cost is $3.45 for one meal, $17.25 for one week, $75.90 for one month, and $897 for an entire year. All gifts are tax-deductible.
• Checks should be made payable to Forsyth County Senior Services, Holiday Gift Certificate Program and may be mailed or delivered to the following address:

                                       Forsyth County Senior Services
                                       595 Dahlonega Highway
                                       Cumming, GA 30040

• All meals delivered from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day will include a special certificate to wish happy holidays from the meal provider.

All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast with Santa

Grab your Elf hat and join in on the fun at the Senior Center's Pancake Breakfast with Santa!  Volunteers are needed to help with all services that day.  Contact the Senior Center at 770.781.2178 for more details.

FORSYTH COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
770.781.2180

The Forsyth County Fire Department is asking local citizens to help make this holiday season special for children in need and to donate to the Aerial's House toy drive. Forsyth County fire stations and the Fire Department Headquarters, located at 3520 Settingdown Road, are now accepting new, unwrapped toys for Aerial's House. All donations will go to the Holiday Giving Tree for Kids program.

KARE for KIDS (Dawson County Residents)

706.216.5273

www.kareforkids.us

KARE for Kids is providing holiday gifts for children in Dawson County from birth to senior in high school.