Programs gearing up for Christmas giving

Posted 11/25/16

Santa’s helpers will be distributing Christmas Baskets from 1-3 p.m., Friday, Dec. 23, at the Powell Armory at 1102 E. Seventh St., across from Powell High School.

Baskets are loaded with enough food to prepare a holiday feast specific to each …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Programs gearing up for Christmas giving

Posted

Santa resides at the North Pole, but some of his super-duper sidekicks call Powell home.

A couple local programs aimed at lending a helping hand — the Christmas Basket program and Sally’s Boutique — are gearing up for a holiday season of giving.

Santa’s helpers will be distributing Christmas Baskets from 1-3 p.m., Friday, Dec. 23, at the Powell Armory at 1102 E. Seventh St., across from Powell High School.

Baskets are loaded with enough food to prepare a holiday feast specific to each family’s size. Toys are distinctly designated for the sex and age of each child, said Dave Blevins, Powell Council for Community Services chairman.

“We had over 150 baskets last year,” Blevins said. “We think it will be in that neighborhood again.”

Sally Montoya will once again be ramrodding the operation, Blevins said. “This marks Sally’s 67th year.”

Montoya will also have her Sally’s Boutique — which offers a wide variety of free merchandise — up and running on Christmas Eve.

Applications for Christmas baskets can be picked up beginning today (Friday), at the Powell Police Department at 270 N. Clark St. The deadline to return applications is Friday, Dec. 16.

The applicants’ names are not made public, Blevins said. “It’s all confidential.”

Volunteers are many at the armory, including the Wyoming National Guard providing a warm, safe setting for the basket helpers and recipients, Blevins said.

The Masonic Lodge is always on hand to haul the baskets to cars, Blevins said. Last year the Powell High School Honor Society lent a hand, and Powell students typically assist.

The council buys the food each year at a Powell grocer, but they also depend on the community to donate new toys for the baskets, Blevins said.

Year after year, the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots, area businesses, community groups, schools and the ABATE (A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments) motorcycle club coordinate drives to fetch toys for the baskets, Blevins said.

Powell police gather the basket applications. Without pay, city of Powell employees begin the special day every year at 6 a.m., loading the baskets in a warm trailer so the food does not freeze en route to the basket giveaway location, Blevins said. “And it makes the program successful.”

Bo Warner of Powell Dairy donates a gallon of milk for every basket and Admiral Beverage Company pitches in plenty of Pepsi products, bottled water and flavored drinks every year, Blevins said.

Each individual or family has a stack of boxes earmarked just for them that are called boxes. All the baskets are loaded in the recipients’ vehicles in less than two hours because the council’s volunteers are highly organized. Many of Santa’s Powell associates express their holiday gusto by sporting some sort of colorful Christmas apparel along with warm smiles.

He and his helpers a happy lot, Blevins said. “Everyone leaves with a good feeling. It’s nice to know you’re part of that.”

Sally’s stock

Meanwhile, Sally’s Boutique will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Christmas Eve at the old One Stop Motorsports at 555 S. Fair St.

Montoya’s emporium will tentatively remain open through Dec. 31, if she still has items in stock.

Montoya said she accepts used items for her boutique and new toys for Christmas Baskets, too. Call her at 307-202-1663.

Tots’ toys

The Marines’ Toys for Tots program contributes items for the basket program, said Harold Wages, Tots area coordinator.

The organization has collection boxes everywhere, Wages said.

As always, ABATE is making a toy run and TCT West is offering a $5 credit on their customer’s bills for every new toy they bring into a TCT West office, Wages said.

Tots’ toys must be new and in their original packaging, Wages said. Please don’t gift wrap, he asked, because they must examine the items to determine who the young recipients should be.

Folks wishing to help sort the gifts can give Wages a call at 307-213-0305.

If kids need toys, the Marines will always have Santa’s back, Wages said. “We’ll keep doing the same thing.”

Annual alms

The Christmas Basket program is only one of the council’s benevolent endeavors.

“We help people throughout the year with emergency issues,” Blevins said. That includes food, a night’s lodging or utility bills, among a host of other needs.

For those in desperate need, applications are available any time at the Powell Police Department, Blevins said.

The council is a small non-profit organization of locals. Every penny collected is earmarked for the needy, Blevins said. Council members even buy their own stamps when they mail letters seeking monetary donations.

By the time the baskets are purchased each year, the council is all but tapped out. Please send checks to Powell Council for Community Services, P.O. Box 794, Powell, WY 82435, Blevins asked.

For decades, through thick and thin, Powell area folks have donated, Blevins said. “It shows that our community does care.”

Comments