Gift drive will help those most in need

This year is the third for a gift drive benefiting poverty-stricken families and animal rescue organizations.

Seven struggling families with children and five animal rescue organizations have been singled out for help for the holidays.

Monetary donations can be made at any Huntington Bank under the name Kids, Canine and Kittens Gift Drive.

The drive is accepting all items to help these children and animals: new or gently used toys, clothes, cleaning items, household items, hygiene items, school supplies, furniture, etc. Everything donated will be put to use.

Also needed are wrapping paper, boxes, bags, etc., and volunteers to participate in a gift-wrapping session at the end of the drive.

The donation deadline is Dec. 16. Drop-off locations follow: Angels for Animals, 4750 W. South Range Road, Canfield, 330-549-1111; Cat Ladies Society, 2177 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown, 330-792-4228; and Hands- On Volunteer Network of the Valley, 5500 Market St., Boardman, Suite 106, 330-782-5877. In special situations only, a pickup might be possible.

Be sure to specify when dropping off items that they are for the gift drive. Otherwise, they might not be included.

For more information contact Jaime Hughes, project leader, at GiftDrive@yahoo.com or Gretchen Brown, HandsOn Volunteer Network supervisor, at gbrown@hovn.org.

The “Dear Santa” wish lists of most of the children are similar: toys, games and the like. But one little boy asked that his family have “Christmas supper, a real dinner with all the spreads like green beans, corn, chicken, biscuits. ...”

Families also requested crosses to hang in their homes.

The most-requested items follow:

Soap, shampoo, deodorant, body spray

Arts and crafts (paint, crayons, markers, glitter)

Cars, trucks, trains

Coloring books

Hair accessories, play makeup

Night lights

Socks

Playhouse, play kitchen and accessories

Doll and accessories

Football items

Board games

Educational books

Blankets

Spider Man, Batman, Iron Man and accessories

Sidewalk chalk

School supplies

Clothing and accessories

Nonperishable food items

Household items (curtains, dishes, furniture)