The month-long drive to raise money for the Christmas boxes we give out in December has brought in about $4,500 so far, and that’s just what has come through GSM.
Other businesses that have partnered with GSM and have donation jars are: American State Bank, Citizens National Bank, General Power and Light, Mid Tex Federal Credit Union, Texas Bank and Trans Texas Tire.
People may stop by any of those locations and make a donation to the Christmas in July drive through the end of this week. All of the money donated will go into a special fund specifically for the Christmas boxes.
“We anticipate the need to be incredible this year,” said Misty Bowers, Public Relations Director. “Already this year, we have seen a 17 percent increase in the number of families who have had to ask for help through our food pantry. And there has been a huge increase in the number of new families we’ve seen who have never had to ask for help before.”
If the trend continues to hold at 17 percent, that will be an extra 215 families on top of the 1,262 that came last year. At $35 a box it will take more than $51,000 just to provide a box with most of the ingredients needed to prepare a traditional Christmas dinner. That’s on top of the regular grocery staples provided by the food pantry.
“In all likelihood, the numbers will be even higher,” Bowers said. “The need continues to grow and I think it’s highly probable that we will easily see 1,500 families this December which is exactly why we wanted to do the Christmas in July drive.”
Bowers said they are hoping to help off-set the cost of the holiday rush by allowing people to give now when they may not be stretched quite so thin.
Donations can be made at any of the aforementioned locations or bring it in to the Good Samaritan office at 305 Clark Street and enter your name into a drawing for basket full of beautiful Christmas ornaments. Take a tour while at the office, and enter your name twice!
GSM has given away a different color-themed ornament basket each week during the month. The final drawing will be held at noon Friday, July 29.
For more information, call the GSM office at 643-2273 or visit www.goodsambwd.org.