Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier every year with advertising beginning often before the Halloween candy is put away.
While October might be stretching it, Good Samaritan Ministries is taking it a couple of steps farther and having Christmas in July!
Now Christmas in July is not an exploitation of the holiday season, but rather a special time where GSM will try to raise funds for the Christmas boxes given out in December.
“We know the holidays can be hectic and there are often a lot of personal and professional pressures that vie for your time and attention during November and December,” said Angelia Bostick, Executive Director of Good Samaritan Ministries. “We are just simply trying to give people the opportunity to give in the middle of summer when things may not be stretched quite so thin.”
Every family who comes to the GSM food pantry during the month of December receives a special Christmas box in addition to their regular grocery staples. The box is filled with most of the ingredients needed to make a traditional Christmas dinner.
While the number of families coming to the food pantry has held steady with last year, 2011 set records all year long for the amount of families who needed help. The need is still great and December always sees an increase.
“This year we’ve been able to decrease the cost of the boxes while increasing the items we are able to include,” Bostick said.
Only $25 will provide one Christmas box to a family who is facing difficult times during the holidays. Any donations made for the Christmas in July drive will be put into a special account used only to buy food for the Christmas boxes.
To make a donation, mail a check to P.O. Box 1136, Brownwood, TX 76804 or make a payment online at goodsambwd.org. You may also bring a donation by 305 Clark Street during regular business hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m. Credit card payments can now be accepted in-house.
Currently there are donation jars set up at Nathan’s Jewelers and Roberson Rent-All. If your place of business would like to have a donation jar set up, please call 325-203-2489 and one will be delivered to you.
Please call 643-2273 or 325-203-2489 for more information.