The United Way of Bartholomew County Holiday Helpline will begin taking registrations Monday — and coordinators still could use more volunteers for the effort that will run through Dec. 4 to provide needy families with toys and food during the holidays.
Holiday Helpline registers people for the Community Center of Hope Angel Tree, Firemen’s Cheer Fund, Shop with a Cop and the Love Chapel Holiday Food Pantry, Toys For Tots, and the St. Bartholomew Giving Tree.
Plus, staff with two other local programs reaching hundreds of needy young people do their own registration: the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center Angels of Love and the Salvation Army Angel Tree. But those names are included in the Holiday Helpline database to avoid duplication of services to families, according to organizers.
Diane Doup, community outreach coordinator for the neighborhood center, said registrations for the Angels of Love outreach, which began nearly two weeks ago, are running slightly ahead of previous years. She said that could indicate a greater community need overall. The program, working alongside St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and others, annually provides toys to more than 500 youngsters.
Alicia Monroe, United Way’s Volunteer Action Center director who oversees the helpline, said it’s tough to currently project if the community need has increased over last year.
“I know that the Cheer Fund organizers are anticipating higher numbers,” Monroe said. And we were anticipating a lot higher needs with the school supplies program earlier. But those numbers were lower.
“So, I honestly don’t know at this point.”
Monroe mentioned that one element of the helpline will be different this year: The number of phone volunteers used will have to be about 20 percent fewer each day because of social distancing in the room where calls are received.
“So people’s wait time to register could be longer,” Monroe said. “That’s because volunteer safety has to be a No. 1 concern. So, I hope that people can be patient with us.”
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Holiday help for low- to middle-income struggling families includes:
- United Way of Bartholomew County Holiday Helpline (starting Monday): Registers families for gifts with the Community Center of Hope, Angel Tree, Firemen’s Cheer Fund, Shop with a Cop, Toys For Tots, St. Bartholomew Giving Tree, and the Love Chapel Holiday Food Pantry. Line will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 4. 812-375-2216.
- Angels of Love (now open): Purchases gifts for Bartholomew County children and teens through age 18. Applicants must fill out a registration form, available at the front door of Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center’s office at 1039 Sycamore St. in Columbus or online at lcnfc.org. Information: 812-379-1630 or lcnfc.org.
- Salvation Army Angel Tree (now open): Purchasing gifts for children through age 15. Salvation Army applicants are asked to bring photo IDs of all adults living within the household (driver’s license, medical card, birth certificate) and proof of address, proof of income and list of expenses. Individuals must have these items in order to begin filling out application for assistance. Information: 812-372-7118 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays through Oct. 19 only.
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United Way of Bartholomew County is in need of volunteers to register children and families for holiday gifts and food.
Volunteers will work two-hour shifts between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 19 through Dec. 4. Volunteers can work as few or as many shifts as they would like.
Information: uwbarthco.galaxydigital.com
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