To many people, the holidays mean family, food, and fun. To some though, the holiday season is all about giving. It’s around this time of year that non-profit service organizations open up more opportunities for people of all ages to volunteer.
With almost 4,000 people living in poverty in Lincoln County, over 1 in 10 people struggle during the holiday season. Thanks to organizations like The Connection, The Salvation Army, and Community Action Partnership, it’s not difficult for families to receive help with food and clothing.
As well as the many opportunities in the community, there are ways to help at North Platte High School. Brandy Buscher is the student service coordinator at NPHS. She runs the Adopt a Backpack program, food pantry, and the hygiene pantry. If a student needs assistance, they can get nearly everything they need. If any students are interested in volunteering to help or need help, you can find Buscher in room 1206.
The Salvation Army provides the widest variety of volunteer opportunities for people who want to help. They also help families in need by providing services like food drives, fundraising, and food/clothing donations.
During the holiday season though, there are more ways the Salvation Army helps families in need, according to office assistant Alyssa Pringle. They have a winter coat exchange where families are able to look through racks of coats and take what they need. They also donate a basket of typical Thanksgiving foods to families that sign up. The food donations have many items in them, such as a turkey, canned vegetables, stuffing, etc.
Another service provided through the Salvation Army is the Angel Tree. This tree has ornaments on it with the names and ages of children in need, and what they want for Christmas. People in the community then pick an ornament, buy some of the things listed, and donate it to The Salvation Army’s Toy Shop. Parents who can’t afford Christmas gifts are then able to pick out some things from the shop for their children.
Whether you want to volunteer during the holidays, or are in need of assistance, The Salvation Army has several opportunities for you.