Published: November 07, 2008 12:58 am         

Utility, county combine charity efforts

Lebanon — City and county agencies are participating in food and toy collections to benefit local charities.

From now through December, Lebanon Utilities, 401 S. Meridian St., Lebanon, will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items for The Caring Center.

Persons who make contributions may register for a weekly prize drawing, said Laurie Gross, Lebanon Utilities customer service manager. The utility office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“We’ll just have some little prizes, and probably draw on Monday mornings,” she said.

Gross, a Caring Center director, said the agency “can’t keep food” on the shelves.

“We’re anticipating they will be doing a lot more holiday meals on Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Gross said.

It costs about $25 to assemble a holiday meal, Gross said. Monetary donations should be sent to The Caring Center, 1230 Ransdell Court, Lebanon IN 46052.

Collection boxes for both the Boone County Toy Drive and The Caring Center will be in the Boone County Courthouse rotunda and the front lobby of the Boone County Annex, 116 W. Washington St., through Dec. 23, said Terri Batts, a county employee who is coordinating the effort.

Batts hopes to collect donations on a daily basis. She will deliver contributions to Toy Drive chairwoman Myrtle Bailey “once or twice a week,” Batts said in an e-mail.

By doing so, Batts hopes that Bailey will be able to target specific age groups and food item needs.

Toys, both new and “gently used,” will be distributed to children 12 years and younger through the toy drive. Food items will be taken to The Caring Center’s food pantry, where the demand has been high and is expected to increase, executive director Theresa Hanners has said.

For the first time, the toy drive has placed an age limit on recipients. Bailey said both the cost of gifts for teenagers and an anticipated sharp increase in the number of gift requests, were factors in the decision.

Bailey has estimated the 31st annual toy drive will receive requests from the parents of more than 1,000 children.

Parents who wish to apply for the drive may contact Bailey at (765) 482-4641.

A “gift tree” with ornaments listing suggested contributions is on display at the Lebanon Wal-Mart; the toys are available at Wal-Mart.

Toys are being collected at both Lebanon Fire Department stations; the Zionsville Fire Department; the Old West Wood Shop, 223 E. Fordice St.; the Lebanon Street Department and Bailey’s home, 407 E. Fordice St., Lebanon. Persons in the Jamestown area may arrange pickup of contributions by calling Roxy Stewart at (765) 676-5243.

     

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