Show your holiday spirit by helping to meet local needs
'SHOWER SHAW WITH GOODIES'
Show the soldiers and airmen at Shaw Air Force Base our appreciation through "Shower Shaw with Goodies."
The Shaw Spouses' Club in collaboration with the Sumter community wants to provide gifts to 900 United States Air Force and Army members. Nonprofit organizations, businesses, religious organizations, clubs, civic organizations and individuals are invited to donate items from the following list of goodies:
- Candy canes;
- Plain candy kisses/chocolate mini bars;
- Microwave popcorn;
- Mini bags of pretzels or cookies; and
- Hot chocolate (individual packages).
Monetary donations are welcome to provide gift cards for local downtown Sumter bakeries and eateries.
Goodies can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Memorial Park Meeting House, 118 N. Salem Ave.
For more information, contact Cleo Klopfleisch at (803) 406-2177, or sign up to volunteer at https://signup.com/go/hWVanqQ.
Schools are encouraged to make cards and drop them off on Dec. 3 at the meeting house or at 207 Mason Croft Drive.
Monetary donations can be sent to:
Shaw Spouses' Club
RE: Shower Shaw With Goodies
PO Box 52337
Shaw AFB, SC 29152
CROSSWELL HOME FOR CHILDREN
Crosswell Home for Children is happy to already have the 2024 sponsor groups in place for Christmas gifts for the children, but there are ongoing needs for the home. They include:
4 polyresin Adirondack chairs
2 polyresin park benches
4 large picnic tables
4 upright powerful vacuums
2 50-inch smart TVs
large duffel bags (unlimited)
16 oscillating tower fans
8 full-size over-the-door mirrors
1 16-by-24 above-sink mirror
4 collapsible commercial laundry carts on wheels
20 laundry hampers with lids
Purell hand sanitizer dispenser for wall
4 brooms with dustpans
3 spin mops with buckets
4 commercial dust mops
4 silverware sets for 12
4 plastic / acrylic dishwasher safe drinking glass set for 12
4 Corelle dinnerware sets
15 twin comforter sets
30 zippered twin mattress covers
dish towel sets (unlimited)
bath towel sets (unlimited)
SMILEMAKERS patient stickers for nurse/doctor visits
fidget toy packs for nurse/doctor visits
underwear (toddler-adult size) - boxers preferred for boys
crew socks for teen boys
ankle/crew socks for girls (prefer white, black, neutral)
Cantu/Shea Moisture hair products (shampoo, conditioners and oil)
Dove bodywash / soap
CeraVe lotions and face wash
Non-alcohol mouthwash
Individual toothbrush cases
laundry and dish detergent
antibacterial spray and toilet cleaner
Swiffer dusting products
LED daylight 60 watt bulbs
batteries AA/AAA
Gift cards for activities / outings to McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Papa John's, Moe's, Zaxby's, Pizza Lane, Five Guys or any local place
Gift cards for clothing / gifts to Walmart, TJ Maxx, Ross, Burlington, Amazon, etc.
Items may be dropped off at the office building on the campus, 11 Crosswell Drive, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For additional information, call Suzy Allred at (803) 774-2760 or email sallred@crosswellhome.org.
To see Crosswell's Amazon wish list, visit https://tinyurl.com/mtp98r6y.
Due to storage and staff constraints, donations of used clothing, toys, etc. cannot be accepted during the holiday season.
CRAM-A-CRUISER
Sumter Police Department, in partnership with The Salvation Army, will hold its Cram-A-Cruiser toy drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, at Walmart, 1283 Broad St. Cram-A-Cruiser was created to ensure every child in Sumter receives a toy for Christmas. Officers will park a vehicle at Walmart to collect new, unwrapped toys, and the toys will then be distributed locally by The Salvation Army.
HELP AN ANGEL FLY
Sumter United Ministries identifies people during the year that churches, Bible study groups, businesses, individuals and clubs can buy gifts for Christmas. For information, call (803) 775-0757.
SUMTER UNITED MINISTRIES FOOD PANTRY
Sumter United Ministries Food Pantry, which provides food to those in need, is running low. If you are interested in providing food to SUM, donations are accepted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at 36 Artillery Drive.
Below is a list of goods that SUM is consistently in a low supply of (though director Mark Champagne says, "We will be thankful for any items donated, whether on the list or not.")
- Canned meals (such as beef stew or cans of Chef Boyardee meals)
- Manwich
- Canned meats such as chicken, ham, Spam and Vienna sausages
-Hamburger Helper
- Tuna Helper
- Dry milk/powdered milk
- Shelf-stable milk (Almond milk)
- Knorr pasta/rice packets
- Grits (boxes with individual packets)
- Oatmeal
- Jelly
- Cereal
- Rice
- Baked beans
- Canned chili
- Spaghetti sauce
DONATE A USED BIKE
If you have any used bicycles you no longer want, donate them to be fixed up and given to children at Christmas by dropping them off at any Sumter fire station in the city and county all year 'round. Palmetto Optimist Club is accepting the bicycles, in partnership with the Sumter Evening Optimist Club.
FIRESIDE FUND
Each winter since 1969, The Sumter Item has run a fundraiser to collect money from its readers to be donated for heating relief, with money given entirely to Sumter United Ministries. The faith-based nonprofit provides emergency and life-rebuilding services ranging from food, shelter and clothing to final-notice bill pay, access to educational opportunities and a medical clinic. The Sumter Item recognizes and appreciates every ministry their staff and volunteers run, but the Fireside Fund was created to focus on one area that becomes critical for the next few months: heat. Every penny donated will directly help people who live in Sumter by preventing heating services from being turned off, allowing access to propane or other heating sources and, when enough funding is available and the need is there, funding long-term housing fixes to make homes more efficient.
Donations can be mailed to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29151, or dropped off at 36 W. Liberty St.
Checks should be made out to Sumter United Ministries. To have your name included in The Item with your donation amount, include names of person / persons making donation and if making donation in someone's honor, please include the name. Names will be printed as given.