Through the One Stop Community Christmas Fund, members of the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation (SICF) hope to help families in need celebrate the holiday.
"One Stop Community Christmas serves Coles, Clark, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, and Shelby counties to provide Christmas gifts and household necessities for families who are in need of these services," SICF said on its website. One blanket, one family game, two toys/gifts for each child, paper supplies and cleaning products, diapers or underwear, feminine products for teen and tween girls, wrapping paper, pajamas, dental supplies, and a traditional Christmas dinner will be given to each family. Families can sign up to receive items until Nov. 21 at noon, according to the One Stop Community Christmas website. Families are encouraged to confirm that birthdates, sizes, and additional details they provide are correct.
One Stop Community Christmas began in 2016 through a partnership with more than 170 area organizations including schools, businesses, health care providers, churches, and civic groups.
"One Stop is an effort to band together and help even more families who need it while making sure to provide a really positive experience for everyone involved," the One Stop website said. "One Stop is about the power of partnership to make a difference in the community."
One Stop Community Christmas will collaborate with SICF and Lake Land College. The organizations will hold a distribution day on Dec. 10, with 30-minute time slots available for each family who signs up. More than 1,000 people volunteer to make the event successful. Volunteers are needed on Dec. 9 to set up for the distribution day; registration is open now through the website.
Through its partnership with SICF, One Stop Community Christmas was given 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. This enables the maximum allowable tax deduction for donors giving to the organization's fund.
Renee Fonner, chair of the One Stop Community Christmas Board, said the decision to partner with SICF was a "win-win for us" and the SICF has been a tremendous help with the organization's mission.
One Stop is accepting donations by mail, in person, or online. Checks can be made payable to SEICF with a memo reading "One Stop." They can be mailed to Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation: One Stop at P.O. Box 1211, Effingham, IL 62401. People can contribute in person at the Salvation Army of Coles and Cumberland County, located at 1300 Richmond Ave, Mattoon, IL 61938. Credit or debit card donations can be made through the One Stop website.
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