As the nights get colder and the holiday season approaches, charities serving Burke County are grinding their gears to help out the needy.
East Burke Christian Ministries is still accepting applications for its angel tree program, Director Carolyn Yoder said. The deadline is Wednesday.
The program offers angels on Christmas trees that include a name and wish list. Donors can pick an angel, buy the gifts and drop off the gifts at East Burke Christian Ministries, 103 Third Ave. SE, Hildebran.
Yoder said last year about 70 children received gifts through the program.
The Salvation Army's angel tree program is also under way, Christmas Coordinator Windy Bowman said. The deadline has passed, but expect the trees to go up starting around Thanksgiving.
The organization is seeking volunteers for its Christmas activities, Bowman said.
Volunteers are needed Dec. 19 at the toy shop at 412A Fleming Drive to set up, package and distribute gifts and clean up, Bowman said. Additional volunteers are needed as bell ringers for the Red Kettle Campaign and bell ringing season.
The Red Kettle Campaign kicks off Nov. 27 at several locations in Morganton including Walmart, Belks, Big Lots and Kmart. The campaign runs from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. through Christmas Eve.
Bowman said people can volunteer in groups in hourly segments or individually for three to four hours.
"Funds that are raised through our kettles, that goes toward us being able to assist the people in the community with rent, utilities, food and clothing," Bowman said.
An anonymous donor has pledged to match monetary donations to the Good Samaritan Clinic up to $10,000 until the end of the year, Executive Director Lou Hill said. And high school senior Savannah Davis recently raised more than $3,000 for the clinic as part of her senior project.
For the Christmas season, donations can be made in honor of a person, Hill said. The honored person will receive a card acknowledging the donation.
Additionally, the clinic is always in need of paper products, envelopes and toilet paper, Hill said.
But mostly, the clinic is in need of volunteers, especially medical professionals and clerical volunteers, Hill said. Volunteers can work flexible hours. Interested people should contact volunteer coordinator Kelly Story.
Although the winter brings an emphasis on the holidays, for many the holidays are a secondary concern to their need for warmth.
"We mostly focus on doing what we do (all year)," Burke United Christian Ministries Executive Director David Tate said. "We always have a Christmas meal."
Tate said the organization anticipates an influx of people with heating concerns, particularly from those who use oil based heating systems.
Tate said the Community Foundation of Burke County provided a $13,000 grant and $2,400 has already been used to assist people with heating costs. The grant is limited to assisting the elderly, disabled and children.
Monetary donations are especially useful this time of the year, Tate said, but BUCM welcomes food and clothing donations. In the past four months, the food pantry has given out almost 200,000 pounds of food.
Yoder said East Burke Christian Ministries is facing the same concerns from the people it serves.
In just eight working days, 44 families requested fuel assistance, Yoder said. Duke Energy gave the organization a small grant, but checks for fuel assistance won't go out until February.
Yoder said blankets, coats and cold weather clothing donations are particularly needed during the winter.
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