Greenville, NC Christmas Giving: Doing your Part with Local Events

Christmas brings a season of giving, and several nonpofit organizations in Pitt County have planned holiday fundraising efforts to help meet the needs of our community. Human service organizations have reported a significant drop in annual donations, while the number of those in need has increased. Here are some of the ways to help fill in the gaps people are experiencing this holiday season.

Coats for Kids

Coldwell Banker Coastal Rivers Realty, with offices located in Greenville, NC and Washington, NC, is holding its annual "Coats for Kids" Christmas drive. Members of the public are encouraged to bring in new or gently used coats to either of our offices. From there, the coats will make it to deserving children throughout the county the donation came from, both Pitt & Beaufort counties. This event is in its second year and comes after a very successful freshman year - collecting over 200 coats! Contact Deryck Wilson @ 252-714-5950 for more information about this local event.

Several organizations need help with food

McGee Chiropractic, 1330-B East Arlington Blvd., is collecting food and monetary donations for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina through Dec. 18. Items needed include canned meals, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, rice, pasta, beans, hygiene items, infant products and paper products (no glass). For more information, call (252) 355-5353.

The Greenville Community Shelters is holding its Christmas Day buffet at 1 p.m. Dec. 25. Donations of food are needed, and volunteers are needed from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 752-0829.

The Community Outreach Kitchen of Farmville is seeking donations of presents for those will be served lunch from noon to 1 p.m. on Christmas Day. Wrapped presents, such as hats, gloves, sweaters, coats, long johns, socks, gloves, toys and clothes for children, may be dropped off at Kues Pharmacy on Main Street or at the soup kitchen from noon to 1 p.m. weekdays. On the outside of the present, list whether it's for male or female, the age (adult or child) and size. For more information, call Roger and Joy Collins at 757-1970 or Cathy Tripp at 753-7154 and leave a message.

Fundraising efforts focused on youth

The Salvation Army has an angel tree program to provide gifts to children in the Pitt County area. The angels include information about the needs of each child, including gender, age, clothing size and toy wish list. For more information, call 756-3388.

Pitt County Operation Santa Claus will hold a toy drive to benefit the county's underprivileged children through the Pitt County Department of Social Services from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Colonial Mall. Mayor Pat Dunn has proclaimed the day as "Pitt County Operation Santa Claus Day" in Greenville, recognizing the effort to collect new, unwrapped toys through Dec. 17.

The toy drive is sponsored by the city's fire/rescue and police departments, the county's social services, the sheriff's office and school system, the Salvation Army and the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Several activities are planned Saturday

Grifton Mission Ministries will hold a yard sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 6499 North Highland Blvd., Grifton. Clothes, toys, furniture and other items will be sold. For more information, call Billy Tarlton at 531-1931 or Bobby Joyner at 753-4349.

The Flynn Christian Fellowship Home, a nonprofit transitional-living facility for men in recovery for substance abuse, will hold a chicken dinner sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $5 per plate, which includes barbecued chicken, potatoes, green beans, slaw, bread and cake. Tickets are on sale at the home, 901 Hooker Road. Call 814-6820 for more information.

A talent contest for dogs to show off their best tricks is planned at New Levels Dog Training, 4747 N.C. 33, a mile east of Lowe's. Registration begins at 1 p.m. and the judging begins at 2 p.m. The cost is $5 per entry. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina. Call 752-2120 for information.

Other upcoming fundraising events

The May Museum in Farmville will present its annual Christmas Tea from 3-6 p.m. Dec. 14. Tea, wine and delicacies will be served during the free event. Also, a holiday tour of three of Farmville's historic homes will be held from 4-7 p.m. Houses on tour include the William Leslie Smith house, the J.I. Morgan house and the J.T. Lewis homeplace. A bus will shuttle from the museum to the homes. Tickets are $12 each, will be available the day of the tea and can be purchased at Farmville Furniture, Williams Jewelers, Woodside Antiques and at the museum prior to the event. For more information, call 753-9929 or 753-4670.

The Pitt County AIDS Service Organization (PiCASO) has decorated a Christmas tree at the Colonial Mall to help with collecting Christmas gifts for its clients. The Christmas tree will be on display in the mall through Dec. 15. To participate, remove a red ribbon from the tree and purchase a gift on the wish list attached to the ribbon. After purchasing gift, drop off the unwrapped gift to PiCASO at 609D Country Club Drive. For more information, call Deborah Savage or Samantha Green at 830-1660.

The Greenville Industrial/C.M. Eppes High School Alunni Chorus presents its annual Christmas benefit concert at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 at Sycamore Hill Baptist Church, 1001 Hooker Road. The GIHS-Eppes Alumni Male Chorus and the Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Mass Choir of Goldsboro also will perform. All groups will be directed by Johnny A. Wooten, an Eppes alumnus.

Chorus members are collecting donations for the event, which will benefit scholarships and community charities. For more information, call Wooten at 717-4324 or Esther Best Smith at 321-5614.

Throughout this month

Give the gift of life. Several blood drives are held weekly in the community. In addition, the Eastern North Carolina Donation Center, 700 Cromwell Drive, is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-7 p.m.; Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Music Academy of Eastern Carolina, a nonprofit community music school, is conducting its annual "Give the Gift of Music - Amateur Arts Magnetize Communities" fundraising campaign. The academy's goal is to receive 365 contributions of $150 to benefit scholarships, financial aid, general support and facility maintenance.

The academy is home to many music and arts activities in addition to lessons, ensembles, summer academies and music therapy services, including the Greenville Choral Society Children's Choirs, the Pitt Community College Orchestra, the Magnolia Arts Center's summer productions, Emerald City Big Band, Greenville Pops Orchestra, Little People's Creative Workshop and Young Actors' Workshop, Greenville Writer's Group and music studio recitals. For more information, call 353-2696.

The Salvation Army needs volunteers to staff the Red Kettles as bell ringers at various Greenville locations. Two four-hour shifts are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 2-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The annual fundraiser supports the agency's programs. For more information and to volunteer, call Margaret Stallings at 756-3388, ext. 211.

REAL Crisis Center, 600 E. 11th St., is selling recipe books as a holiday fundraiser. There is a book on appetizers, dinners and desserts, and each book has 75 recipes offered by REAL staff and volunteers. The books are $10 each or all three for $25. For more information, call 758-4357.

The Greenville Community Shelter is offering holiday honor cards to remember friends, family, business associates, senior citizens, teachers and others during the holiday season. The cards are available for a minimum donation of $5 or five for $20. The card lets the recipient know that an honorary gift has been given to the shelter in the recipient's name. Cards are available at each Wachovia branch in Greenville, through the shelter office and at Oakmont Baptist, First Christian, Peace Presbyterian, Covenant United Methodist, St. James United Methodist and Cornerstone Missionary Baptist churches. For more information, call the shelter at 752-0829.

The Humane Society of Eastern Carolina offers gift wrapping at Colonial Mall through Dec. 24. Volunteers are needed during mall hours. For more information and to volunteer, contact Katie Benson at 413-7247 or hsecvolunteer@embarqmail.com.