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Editorial: Share your joy by volunteering and giving

A season of celebration is here. Williams is known as a generous community - generosity is abundant throughout the year. Less than a month of 2009 remains and there are several opportunities to share your personal joy by giving small amounts of time and resources to those in need.

The Williams Lions Club is busy organizing the Toys for Tots project in Williams. This year, the Williams Kiwanis Club will assist the Lions with the toy drive, which has been expanded. Toys will be provided to children 12 years and under in the Williams, Ash Fork, Valle and Parks areas, who might not otherwise have Christmas presents.

Cards for children in need of gifts will be available on Christmas trees at National Bank of Arizona, Williams Health Care Center, the Christmas Tree Gallery and the Williams Ranger District office. Anyone wishing to provide a toy for a child can pick a card from a tree, purchase a toy suitable for the child selected, wrap the gift and return the gift by Dec. 16 to the business where cards were selected. Lions and Kiwanis Club members will deliver the gifts to children's homes before Christmas. If you are aware of children 12 or under in the local area who should be included on the Toys for Tots list, please contact Lion Edie Phillips at (928) 635-4784 with the delivery address, child's name, age and sex to have them added to the list.

Another opportunity to help those in need this holiday season with just a small amount of time is ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. Williams Salvation Army representatives are asking for volunteers to ring the traditional holiday bell at select locations throughout town. Proceeds fund the Salvation Army's temporary emergency help programs in Williams and this year funds are low. If the Salvation Army has ever assisted you, ringing the bell for a few hours would be a great way to re-pay this non-profit organization. To volunteer your time, contact Carol Glassburn at 635-4503. If you don't have time to volunteer, show your generosity by dropping some change into the volunteers' buckets.

ESA has sent Christmas boxes to area servicemen and women. The ESA typically prepares about 45 boxes for those serving stateside and overseas. The cost to mail the boxes was approximately $900 last year and will be more this year due to postage increases. Although the boxes have been sent, ESA accepts donations throughout the year to cover the postage. If you want to help with postage, contact Dorothy Miller at 635-4330. Let's all help in letting our troops know we are thinking about them.

The Williams Food Bank is seeking donations of necessary food items for Christmas food boxes. Canned ham, tuna and chicken; canned soups, fruits or vegetables; and desserts, pasta, rice or any other food items are being thankfully accepted now through the holiday. Items may be donated at 200 S. Ninth St. in the community room. Non-perishable food items and toys can be left at Old Trails, Family Dollar or the city of Williams lobby. Monetary contributions are tax deductible and also appreciated. To make a donation or to find out more, call Guy or Angie Mikkelsen at (928) 607-6421 or (928) 607-7915.

As a fundraiser for the Community Holiday Dinner, Virginia Quinn of Avon and Carol Glassburn of the Williams Needs an Angel are selling Bernard the Polar Bear. The suggested donation is $19. Each child will receive Bernard. Quinn hopes to acquire at least 200 bears. Anyone interested in purchasing Bernard should contact Quinn. To purchase a bear or to help with the fundraiser, stop by 106 S. Ninth St., Ste. C or call Quinn at (928) 635-0677.

The Community Holiday Dinner will be served noon-3 p.m. Dec. 13 at Doc Holliday's Steakhouse, 950 N. Grand Canyon Blvd. While the Kiwanis Club organizes the dinner, many local service organizations and individuals contribute to the event's success by donating money, food, toys and time. Last year, nearly 600 meals were served. To find out how you can help, call Carol Glassburn at 635-4503.

We urge you to share your joy this holiday season by donating your time and resources to these valuable volunteer groups that provide many services not only during the holidays, but also throughout the year. We appreciate all that these service groups and volunteers do. When you see them, spread more joy by telling them, "Thank you."


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