One of the most meritable joy one can find during the holiday season may seem simple, but for those it impacts it can be the greatest gift of all: the act of giving.
One Maysville church in particular, the Light of the Community Church, has sought to inspire that notion in others this year.
“We want to touch the community,” said Rev. Clay Esham, who shares that being a church simply just isn’t enough.
“We want to show people the church actually cares. We want to help: we’re not just a church.”
The Light of the Community Church is currently taking donations for toys and coats, though Esham said that other items are OK.
“Though our main focus is toys and coats,” he said.
Church members will be distributing their donations on Dec. 14, although they will be accepting donations on that day from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Esham said that anyone wanting to donate can contact him at 606-541-5475 or take their donations to the Light of the Community Church at 410 Buckner Street.
Other local businesses and organizations are also pitching in to rouse the giving spirit this year.
Cash Express is holding its 16th annual Food, Toy and Coat Drive, for non-perishable food items and other donations which can be dropped off at 604 D Bernard Coughlin Blvd in Maysville. They’ll be accepting donations until Dec. 15, and can be reached at 606-563-9445.
The Augusta Rotary Club is also holding its 2019 White Christmas Winter Clothes Drive at the Augusta Firehouse, Saturday, Dec. 14 from 2-5 p.m., where it will be accepting hats, scarves, gloves, socks and coats.
The Bracken County Lady Bears have joined Izzy Godman this year in her effort to collect toys for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign on Dec. 13, during the varsity basketball double-header starting at 6 p.m. They encourage all attendees to bring new, unwrapped toys for donation, and join the students in wearing red (Remember Everyone Deployed) shirts which will be worn during warm-ups to support the troops currently deployed. All active and retired military personnel will be recognized in between games. Anyone wanting to make a donation prior to the games can contact Marsha Godman at 606-375-0027.
The Maysville Fire Department and the Rotary Club are hosting their annual toy drive, which will benefit children ages 1-13 years in the seven-county Buffalo Trace Area, including Mason, Bracken, Fleming, Lewis and Robertson counties in Kentucky along with Adams and Brown counties in Ohio. In addition to toys, organizers said cash is always helpful, which can be sent in care to the Rotary Club, payable to “Toy Drive,” P.O Box 322, Maysville, Ky, 41056.
New and slightly used toys can be donated at several locations throughout the area, including Fire Station 1, Autozone, Fire Station 2 and Shugar’s Auto Supply in Maysville and Bradford’s Home Mart in Augusta.
