Mineola Caring and Sharing is in overdrive this month as it counts down to distribution day on Dec. 14. During Christmas holidays, they provide assistance to needy families with the focus on senior citizens and children of the community. Yearly, they serve 300 to 400 families with boxes of food, stockings, toys and gifts that are supplied through fundraising efforts.

Caring and Sharing does several fundraisers before the holidays, including a Brookshire’s gift card raffle and the KMOO radio auction, to support its efforts to care for the needy of Mineola ISD area. However, Caring and Sharing also collects aluminum cans year-round, successfully raising around $3,000 yearly.

Supporting the can drive is simple. Save aluminum cans in a sack separate from other trash and drop it in the cart with the Mineola Caring and Sharing sign behind Brookshire’s. When the cart is full, Neil Conner takes the load to the nearest recycling center to sell.

Volunteers are still needed for sorting food and gifts at the Mineola Methodist Ministries Center Dec. 9-13 beginning at 8 a.m. daily, and for distribution on Dec. 14 beginning at 7 a.m.