Mon Valley Independent’s Christmas Cheer Club now accepting donations

By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
The Mon Valley Independent’s Christmas Cheer Club kicks off today in hopes of fulfilling some holiday wishes for families in need.
The Christmas Cheer Club toy drive was established by our predecessor, The Valley Independent.
Toys donated to the Christmas Cheer Club at our office at 996 Donner Ave. in Monessen help Capt. Sue Thwaite and her crew at the Mon Valley Citadel of the Salvation Army fulfill specific wishes of Mon Valley kids.
Families who need help providing gifts for their children this Christmas have been signing up at the Salvation Army, which then places information about one child on each “Angel Tree” tag to help each giver buy an appropriate gift.
Tags don’t name the kids, but they do have details such as ages and interests, enough for someone to shop for Christmas gifts for a specific child.
Tags are available at Walmart, at the citadel at 308 Schoonmaker Ave. in Monessen, in some local churches, local businesses, hair salons and restaurants this year, said Apryl Kadish, Salvation Army office manager.
“We try to get tags out to as many people as we can to help kids and their families,” Kadish said.
The toys and items collected by the Christmas Cheer Club help to supplement gifts for children whose tags aren’t chosen by a person willing to shop for them, or when someone under-shops for that child.
“When Capt. Sue packs the gifts, she makes sure the kids are getting the same amount of gifts,” Kadish said. “The Cheer Club is where the supplemental gifts are coming from.”
About 160 families have signed up so far, which includes about 500 kids.
Kadish reminds families they can’t wait to sign their children up for the program in December because it is a process that takes time.
The children’s names, ages and interests must be added to Angel Tags, which must be dropped off at a location. The tags must be seen and chosen by someone who wants to shop for each child in that family and return the items in time for the gifts to be ready for the family to pick up at the Salvation Army by Dec. 19 or 20.
There will be one last sign-up Dec. 23, Thwaite calls it the “I forgot Christmas” sign-up, it will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The gifts available at that time will limited to what remains after the initial families who signed up collect the gifts bought specifically for their children.
The Salvation Army drive includes kids up to age 18 as long as the teen is still in high school.
Teenagers can be difficult to buy for, Kadish said, but she has good ideas to pass along — hoodies, earbuds, bluetooth speakers, wallets, gloves, socks, hygiene items, cologne, makeup, bath and body gift sets, hair supplies, sheet sets and pillows.
Kadish also recommends those who do pick up an Angel Tag consider visiting Amazon and searching for “girls age 10” or “boys age 5” for ideas for the child they’ve chosen.
“We’re thrilled to sponsor the Christmas Cheer Club again this year,” said Stacy Wolford, Mon Valley Independent managing editor. “Not only does the club help make the holiday season a little brighter for some local boys and girls, but it provides the Mon Valley Independent with yet another way to help the communities we are proud to serve.”
The Mon Valley Citadel of the Salvation Army services communities throughout the Valley including Monessen, Webster, the Belle Vernon area, Rostraver Township, Pricedale, Fayette City, Allenport, Donora, Elco, Stockdale, the Charleroi area, Dunlevy and Roscoe.
Families in need in those communities can sign up for the Angel Tree program at the Salvation Army by bringing in proof of income, proof of the child’s custody or a welfare packet. If a family receives assistance, they can bring their benefit letter, which includes the list of children who receive benefits from welfare.
The sign-ups and handing out gifts to parents or guardians happen when children are in school. The parents get gifts, wrapping paper and stocking stuffers.
The goal is for the children to never know their gifts have come from the Salvation Army and their donors.
Those who contribute to the Christmas Cheer Club will have their photos published in the Mon Valley Independent.
Joining the Christmas Cheer Club is easy.
Families or individuals are asked to purchase new gifts, each with a minimum value of $5, and bring them to the Mon Valley Independent’s office at 996 Donner Ave., Monessen, located in the city’s Westgate section.
Donors can leave their unwrapped gifts under our Christmas tree, sign the Cheer Club membership book and place their names on the tree. Donations can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays through Dec. 19. We will begin accepting gifts today.
Those who need help providing Christmas gifts to children should call the citadel at 724-684-4282. Local businesses that would like to have some Angel Tree tags should call the same number.
“We’re very appreciative of the support we receive from the Mon Valley Independent all year round and the gifts we receive help us serve the families with the greatest need,” Kadish said.