The Season for Giving begins
The First Baptist Church of Olney kicked off the giving season last week by collecting gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child and encouraging Olneyites to play Secret Santa to residents of Grace Care Center – two of many opportunities to spread Christmas joy this season.
FBCO served as one of 4,700 drop off points where individuals and churches brought red-and-green shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies, and personal care items that will be delivered to children worldwide. So far, FBCO has assembled and collected more than 700 shoeboxes to help reach 12 million children this year. FBCO has put up a tree in the church foyer with the names of Grace Care residents and their requests for Christmas gifts, FBCO Pastor Chad Edgington said.
The Olney American Legion will hold a toy drive and concert Dec. 6, featuring Dylan Mata at 8 p.m. and headliner Gravel Roads at 9 p.m. Admission is $15 at the door or $10 with a new unwrapped toy. The Legion also will be celebrating DJ Chris Widner’s birthday.
The Olney Volunteer Fire Department is collecting Toys for Tots applications for kids ages 12 and under who are Olney residents. Applications are available at the Olney Elementary front office. The sign-up dead line is Dec. 13, and toy pick-up is Dec. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon at the OVFD station at 100 E. Hamilton St.
The 2nd Annual Christmas for Teens needs gifts for Olney ISD students ages 13-18. Cindy Bivins at Sonny’s BBQ (940-456-2700) is taking applications for children’s wish lists. Donors can pick a hang tag from the Christmas tree at Sonny’s and bring the requested unwrapped items to Cindy or Teresa Day at Rockin D Designs (817-5044107). Cindy will match any cash donations, and also has gift certificates for Sonny’s BBQ if people want to provide dinners for kids. Donations should be delivered by Dec. 20.
Keep Olney Beautiful is holding a chili cookoff on Dec. 1 at 4:30 p.m. prior to the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Main Street Gazebo. Group entry fee is $20 for cooks and $5 for spoons for attendees. All proceeds go to KOB and efforts to beautify Olney.
Hospice of Wichita Falls is holding its annual Tree of Lights fundraising campaign, which supports anyone facing life-threatening illness regardless of their ability to pay. Donations can be made online at howf. org or by phone at (940) 691-0982 until Dec. 13. The Venmo account is @ HospiceofWF.