Christmas is Caring 2021

October 18, 2021

It is hard to believe that the holiday season in upon us again! Christmas is Caring is gearing up for another exciting year. Without the support of our community, we would not be able to do what we do. The Christmas is Caring team would like to thank you in advance for everything that you do to support this ministry. Last year you provided food baskets for 60 families and purchased Christmas gifts and new clothing for over 117 children.

Christmas is Caring was started back in the early 70’s by Phillis and Riley Barton. They began to refurbish old toys to give to the children in the community, who would otherwise not have anything for Christmas. As word spread about what they were doing, people started donating money for new toys. As the ministry grew, clothing was added to the gifts given to the children. Then, food baskets were added for the families in need, with or without children.

Phillis and Riley retired from Christmas is Caring at the end of 2015. It took a whole team of people from the community to do in 2016 what the Bartons had been doing on their own for 45 years.

Today, Christmas is Caring provides toys, new clothing, coats, hats and scarfs not only for children in our community, but also for the foster kids in and from Monroe County. Food baskets are provided as well for all who qualify. NECAC handles the qualification process. If a family qualifies for any type of assistance program, they probably qualify for Christmas is Caring.

Applications have already been mailed to last year’s participants. New applications can be picked up at the NECAC office or the DFS office. All applications must be returned to the NECAC office by Friday the 29th of October.

Adopt-a-child cards will be available for pickup starting on November 1st. Anyone who would like to provide a new set of clothing for a child may pick up a card from TPNB, Regional Missouri Bank, Paris Pharmacy or Dollar General. The clothing will need to be returned along with the card, to the First Baptist Church in Paris by November 15th.

If you would like to donate non-perishable food items to help with CIC, they must be delivered to The First Baptist Church by December 6th. Distribution will be from 9 am to 12 pm on December the 10th.

If you would be interested in helping with Christmas is Caring this year, contact Diana Hammond at 573-881-8963. For questions about the application process contact Maggie at NECAC: 660-327-4110. Take your monetary donations to Regina at the Baptist church: 660-327-4405. If you have aluminum cans to recycle, you can take those to the Paris Veterinary Clinic and they will recycle and donate the money to Christmas is Caring. Thank you again for your support.