Various organizations throughout the Northeast Georgia region are teaming up to provide assistance to those in need this holiday season. Nonprofits, churches and businesses are assisting with food insecurity, holiday gifts and more in ways that demonstrate a spirit of community and service.
Here is a look at this season’s offerings, if you are interested in giving back or need assistance.
Community Christmas of Oglethorpe County
communitychristmasoglethorpe.org
(706) 201-7241
oglethorpecommunitychristmas@gmail.com
Community Christmas of Oglethorpe County is going on its 26th year of providing families with the items they need to make Christmas special for their children. The nonprofit collects gifts and monetary donations from schools, banks and businesses. It also welcomes donations from residents and those outside of the county.
The group is dedicated to helping those in Oglethorpe County in any way they can, and has expanded to provide emergency relief for residents, co-chair Catherine Bowen Drewry said. In the midst of the recession and aftereffects of COVID-19, the group has helped people pay their bills and buy furniture and appliances.
“I remember last year for Thanksgiving, we delivered a stove to somebody,” she said. “And we’ve had several families that have been homeless that we’ve worked on getting homes.”
Each year, the organization hosts interviews at Crawford Baptist Church in mid-October to determine eligibility for families. The last day to donate is Dec. 14. The donations go out on Dec. 15 and the financial aid is released. Applicants are required to provide their ID, Social Security number, birth certificate and income information.
The organization also hosts a free yard sale in December for those coming to pick up presents for their children.
The Christmas Marketplace
1158 Athens Road, Crawford 30630
oglethorpechamber.com
706-743-3113
The Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce will host its Christmas Marketplace on Nov. 18-20 where local artisans and small businesses come together in the historic Crawford Depot and put their work up for display.
The Christmas Marketplace has taken place in Oglethorpe County for over a decade and still looks to provide local artists with an outlet to sell their product. Along with the booths, there is a silent auction. The money earned from the auction goes toward the restoration of the depot, which is the home of the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce.
Food will be provided by a collection of vendors throughout the weekend. In addition to the festivities on Sunday, starting at 2 p.m., Santa will be at The Christmas Marketplace for photos.
This will be its second year back since 2019, when it had to be canceled due to the pandemic. It will be from 5-8 p.m Friday, Nov. 18; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20.
For those interested in having a booth in the marketplace, contact Linda Parish at oglethorpechamber@gmail.com.
Bell’s Food Store
740 Athens Road, Lexington 30648
bellsfoodstores.com/store-locations
706-743-8352
Bell’s Food Store offers grocery bags, ranging from $5 to $10 depending on size, to provide food at a low-scale cost.
The special runs through Thanksgiving. Non-perishable food items inside include tuna, peanut butter, crackers and other pre-packaged items. There is no limit on who can purchase a bag. Contact manager Tammy Watkins (tammy.watkins81@yahoo.com) for more information.
Burts United Methodist Church
77 Veribest-Enterprise Road, Carlton 30627
facebook.com/BurtsUMC
(706) 296-0415
Burts United Methodist Church’s monthly food pantry will be open from 10 a.m.-noon on Nov. 16. In addition to the regular food box, the church’s children and youth will give out a bonus Thanksgiving food bag for the first 25 families in attendance.
Ninth District Opportunity Water Bill Assistance
(855) 636-3108
Ninth District Opportunity, Inc. will offer to help pay utility bills for the elderly and medically homebound in counties across the state, including Oglethorpe County, this fall.
Residents are eligible for assistance if every member of their household is 65 or older, or if they are medically homebound due to health reasons.
Applications for water bill assistance are being accepted. If selected, a one-time payment in the form of a check will be issued to the home water supplier, up to $500.
Eligible applicants will be asked to provide verification of age for all members of the household, verification of household income, verification of Social Security numbers for all members of the household, verification of citizenship, and the most recent heating and electric bill, as well as the most recent water bill.
Ninth District Opportunity is a Gainesville-based private non-profit corporation. Applicants can contact Ninth District Opportunity’s scheduling system at 855-636-3108 or ndo.appointment.works/ea. Appointments will be scheduled until all funds are exhausted.
Hunger Bowl
861 Newton Bridge Road, Athens 30607
foodbanknega.org
(706) 354-8191
The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia hosts an annual competitive food drive called the Hunger Bowl to encourage local businesses and organizations to give back. All 14 area counties they serve are eligible to participate, including Oglethorpe County.
Donations received through the competition will benefit the counties they serve. Teams can choose to either collect food donations or raise money through its Virtual Food Drive or Venmo, or do a combination of both.
Donated items cannot be damaged or past their printed expiration date.
Teams that wish to register can do so on the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia’s website. The competition will end Nov. 16. All food and cash donations must be brought to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia by 3 p.m. Nov. 16.
This story is written by the Covering Poverty project, which is part of the Cox Institute’s Journalism Writing Lab at the University of Georgia. If you know of other resources not listed, please contact us at coveringpovertysite@gmail.com.