Wallace: 2009 Holiday Project may serve more county residents than ever before

A box filled with food sits at the Spainhower Building at Marshall Habilitation Center during the 2008 Saline County Holiday Project. This year, the Holiday Project will be held at Martin Community Center Thursday, Dec. 10. (Sydney Stonner/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The 2009 Saline County Holiday Project is on track to see the most participants of any year in the Holiday Project's 30-year history, said Debbie Wallace, Lighthouse Shelter director and organizer of the Holiday Project.

Because of the economic situation of the country, Wallace said, she expects more families to be served than in any other year.

But economic problems haven't stopped Saline Countians from donating to the project, she added.

At the recent intersection collection, volunteers received more than $2,200, and although the Applebee's pancake breakfast netted the project little money, the "dine and donate" fundraisers at both Applebee's and Pizza Hut saw a good deal of participation by area residents, said Wallace.

The success of the intersection collection, she said, shows "if everyone gives just a little bit of change, how we can change everybody's lives."

All funds donated go to the Holiday Project, said Wallace, but not all funds have been used yet -- organizers are still waiting "to see where we're short," she said.

Missouri Valley College Humanics and the senior centers in Marshall and Slater have both been engaged in food drives, with the senior center collecting more than 600 boxes of cereal, which Wallace said would hopefully allow each family to receive a box or two of cereal.

American Discovery Textile in Glasgow was able to donate 30 sleeping bags for the Holiday Project in spite of early estimates the company would not be able to do so.

But, said Wallace, the focus for this year's Holiday Project will be on the basics, meaning food and toys. Currently, she has a three-car garage filled with donations for the Holiday Project.

Materials will be disbursed Thursday, Dec. 10, at Martin Community Center instead of the Spainhower building at the Marshall Habilitation Center as happened in past years.

As usual, Santa Claus will be present during the gifting.

Parents as Teachers will provide childcare on Thursday while parents await their items, said Wallace.

Volunteers are needed for gift disbursement as well as setup and cleaning before and after Thursday. To volunteer, call Jess Schmidt at 660-886-9880. For more information about donating, call Wallace at the same number.

Donations will be taken at Martin Community Center on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 8 and 9, she said.

Although Holiday Project organizers will be at the community center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., said Wallace, she realizes that few people will be able to volunteer for an entire nine-hour stretch, but, "If somebody can volunteer an hour of their time, that is huge. An hour makes a big, big difference, because if 10 people donated an hour, then I've got 10 good hours."

She added, "Even if you don't have the time to volunteer any of those days, come out to the Martin Community Center and find me, and let me explain this program to you. It is just an awesome project to see in action, how our entire community, the whole county ... comes together."

Saline Countians may sign up at Division of Family Services at 1239 W. Santa Fe Trail through Monday, Nov. 30, to receive items from the Holiday Project.

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net