Helping others during the holidays

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving and the Christmas season, area residents and organizations are finding ways to share their blessings with people who are in need.

Patricia Tutsch, Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial in New Underwood, provided funding for nine Thanksgiving baskets that were complete with fruit, vegetables, potatoes, rolls and every other item needed to complement a Thanksgiving dinner. All the recipients of the baskets needed to complete the feast was their own turkey or ham, Meri Jo Anderson, New Underwood city finance officer, said.

Members of the Elm Springs Church decided to take part in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox campaign. Individuals and families filled shoeboxes with gifts specific to girls or boys in certain age groups. The church had a goal of 15 shoeboxes and gathered 26. The boxes will be distributed around the world to children who live in poverty or who are misplaced by war or natural disasters.

The New Underwood Lions Club and the New Underwood branch of the First Interstate Bank are again sponsoring the Angel Tree for New Underwood residents. Angel Tree organizer Shirley Printz said that the names of the gift recipients have been selected, and the tree will soon be ready to go in the lobby of First Interstate Bank. New Underwood individuals who wish to give gifts to the chosen recipients will be able to take an angel ornament from the tree and purchase the gifts suggested on the ornament.

First Interstate Bank is also taking part in the multi-state One Warm Coat drive. New and gently used coats of all sizes are being collected for distribution in the communities that First Interstate Bank serves. Coat donations can be left at the bank’s lobby.