Organizations seek help on Christmas
ves are wrapped up and carolers have sung their hearts out. But the arrival of Christmas Day doesn’t mean doing good deeds has to take a holiday.
There are plenty of opportunities for Quad-City residents who want to help others on the holiday.
Nursing homes
For senior citizens who live in a care facility, a visit and a chance to reminisce about holidays past is a wonderful treat. Some don’t have any family living close enough to visit at Christmas, and welcome visitors or the opportunity to listen to carolers. Small gifts such as slipper socks with nonskid features, large print word puzzles, colorful country and nature magazines, lap robes and small jigsaw puzzles are all appropriate gifts, said Connie Ash, social services director at Crest Health Center at Ridgecrest Village, Davenport.
“It can make the day special,” she said.
Visitors love bringing goodies, but they should check with the nursing station first and make sure the treats are suitable for the recipients, she said. Older people may look healthy but live with diabetes or other health conditions that make special demands on their diets.
Many nursing homes allow visitors, but call ahead of time to check on the rules for visits.
Bettendorf Health Care welcomes people who would like to visit with residents or sing carols. Visitors should come between 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and check in with the nursing station. Staff can assist them with finding residents who would like a visit. Calling ahead of time is encouraged and they can ask for the activities director at (563) 332-7463.
“I’m sure the residents will appreciate that,” administrator Diana Van Wychen said.
Crest Health Center at Ridgecrest Village, Davenport, says good times to visit are 9-11:30 a.m., between breakfast and lunch, or 6-7:30 p.m. between dinner and bedtime. Definitely having someone to sit with and talking is a real treat for residents, Ash said.
Youth facilities
and shelters
John Lewis Community Service operates a youth shelter for non-systems youths who may have run away or are on the streets for other reasons, as well as a transitional facility for teenagers 16-18 who are in school or working.
Volunteers are needed for repairing a TV or moving a donated piano from its current location to the youth facility, said Jane Hoffman, the interim executive director.
People who would like to donate money for supplies for the youth or adult shelters could send checks to 1212 W. 3rd Street, P.O. Box 3245, Davenport, IA 52808. These should be marked for supplies, she said. Hoffman hopes to expand their healthy activity options for teens such as Y passes or even a DVD. The fund also provides basic needs for people who stay at the adult shelter. (563) 322 3751
The Salvation Army in Davenport is in need of chicken breasts, beef, green beans, French fry onions and marshmallows for holiday meals for people living at the shelter. People wishing to donate can call Steve at (563) 324-4808.
Winnie’s Place shelters women and their children. A few of its needs are alarm clocks, calendars and watches. Cash donations are welcome as well, said shelter program manager Kit Miller. For more information, call (309) 764-9466.
Ann Grove, affiliate director of World Relief-Moline, is already looking ahead to Christmas Day 2008 and trying to think of ways to help people feel more connected to the community.
“I think it would be nice to offer a place where people could come and be together on a smaller scale than Mr. Thanksgiving (Bob Vogelbaugh),” Grove said.
Meal providers
The Café On Vine is in need of volunteers during its Christmas Day dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The café opened Nov. 18 and has had a steady stream of people in need of a hot meal since that time, said Sister Bea Snyder, of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary.
“We have at least 100 a day. We’ve had a tremendous response from the community,” she said. People who want to volunteer or contribute to the café should call (563) 324-4472 or write to Sister Bea, Humility of Mary, 820 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport, IA 52804.
The Christian Care Men’s Rescue Mission, 2209 3rd Ave., Rock Island, also will need volunteers to serve two full meals on Christmas Day. Their pantry is full thanks to a canned food drive that brought in results beyond all expectations. “We just had a fantastic response from people on both sides of the river,” said the Rev. Gary McBrien.
People who would like to help serve and provide a listening ear during lunch on Christmas
Day are welcome to call (309) 786-5734 and see what assistance is needed, McBrien said.
Sister Ludmilla Benda said she will need help preparing hot meals to an estimated 150 people Christmas Day at Father Conroy’s Vineyard of Hope. Mealtime begins at 12:15 p.m. and the meal site is located at 4th and Pershing streets. Volunteers should call and ask what they could do to make the meal special for guests. “We can always use food,” she said. Desserts are welcome additions to the menu.
She said she would also welcome assistance from anyone who would like to help prepare bags of toiletries with shampoo, toothpaste, soap and other necessities. The bags will be distributed during the Christmas meal, she said. Sister Ludmilla can be contacted at (563) 381-2219.
The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.