Mineola Caring & Sharing has set its first volunteer meeting of the year for Monday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. at the Methodist Ministry Center, 612 N. Newsom St.
“Anyone interested in helping with this Christmas program is welcome to attend,” Board President Joyce Curry said.
Mineola Caring & Sharing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1983 by a group of citizens representing various organizations and churches who wanted to combine their efforts to help those in need during the Christmas season.
Volunteers are needed in a number of areas, with a chairperson coordinating the efforts of each committee. Those areas include stockings, toys, food, gifts for the elderly, families and teens, coats, two scholarships for Mineola seniors, canned food collections from local schools and giving trees placed around town.
The organization raises funds through the collection of aluminum cans and the KMOO Radio auction. A car show is not planned this year.
“We are open to ideas on new fundraisers as we must raise at least $30,000 each year to fund all our projects,” Curry said.
Donations from individuals, churches and organizations are down this year.
Additional volunteer meetings are scheduled for Oct. 29 at Northside Church and Nov. 16 at First Baptist Church.
Food and toy sorting will be held Dec. 7-11 at the Methodist Ministry Center, with distribution day scheduled for Dec. 12.
Application forms have been provided to Mineola schools and are also available at the Kindness Kottage or online.