Several ways to give this holiday season

WORLAND – During the holiday season the desire to give to others burns deeply in many people’s hearts so several organizations in the area are giving people a variety of ways to quench the fire and make someone’s life just a little easier, at least for a short while.

WORLAND’S LARGEST BABY SHOWER

The Grace Chapel Community Church in Worland is hosting Worland’s Largest Baby Shower to help moms-to-be and moms with infants, in need, have the essentials. Each mom or mom-to-be will receive a diaper bag purchased by the church and filled with the items donated by the community. “We have 30 bags but we are challenging the city of Worland, we believe they can do it, to make us go out and buy more bags. We want to bless as many moms who are struggling in our community as we possibly can,” Grace Chapel Community Church Pastor Louie Pantelis said. “In the past 10 years, I know for sure, Washakie County was, we were the county with the largest divorce rate per capita of anywhere in the United States. So that means that we have the largest number [per capita] of single parent homes, so the likelihood for a need of this type of program is beyond what we can imagine,” he added.

New items being collected by the church include: baby shampoo, baby powder, teething rings, teething gel, clothes (0-6 months), baby rattles, baby wash cloths, undershirts, caps/hats, no scratch mittens, socks, burp cloths, baby wipes, diaper rash ointment, pacifiers, baby bottles, baby soap, bibs, baby oil and brush and comb sets.

Pantelis said that the church will be collecting the items until Christmas Eve and that the diaper bags filled with the donated items will be distributed to moms with the help of the Washakie County Ministerial Association, the Department of Family Services and other social service agencies.

He also requested that all items donated are small enough to fit into a diaper bag. No cribs, car seats and such because the church doesn’t have the room to store large items.

Pantelis stated that the baby shower will occur during the Christmas Eve services at 10:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. He also stated that items can be dropped off at the church, 1101 Russell Ave., Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

RT COMMUNICATIONS HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE

RT Communications is collecting items for the Washakie County Food Pantry and Ministerial Center and the New Hope Humane Society until Dec. 15. Items can be donated at Blair’s Market in Worland, the front lobby of the RT Communications building in Worland between the hours of 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and the Pet Barn in Worland. Blair’s Market will be matching the donations and the Pet Barn will donate a six-pound bag of pet food for each bag of pet food purchased. Items being collected are: non-perishable food items [cannot be out of date], paper products, pet foods, cleaning supplies and toiletries.

“This is a food drive as well as a pet food drive,” RT Communications Vice President and General Manager Becky Dooley said in an earlier interview. At this time there is always a need with the Washakie County Food Pantry and Ministerial Center and the New Hope Humane Society. RT Communications wants to bring that to everyone’s attention and help with those needs, she added.

MEMORY TREE

The Memory Tree, the little tree with a star in Pioneer Square is adorned with CDs decorated and hung by the Special Olympics athletes. Each CD has the name of a person who has passed away or for a person to be honored.

“For a $5 donation to the Special Olympics, a name can be placed in memory of a loved one who has passed on or in honor of someone living who holds a special place in your heart. An invitation can be sent to one person, per order, to let them know about a special ceremony that is held, where all the names are read aloud,” Yvonne Bryant said in an earlier interview.

Order forms can be obtained at: Rocky Mountain Framing, Big Horn Federal Bank, O.W.L. Unlimited and Bryant Funeral Home.

The Memory Tree ceremony is at 7 p.m. on Dec. 14 at the Worland Community Center Complex at and includes a message from a clergy member and music. There will be refreshments and a social time after the ceremony.

“Many of those who attend the ceremony for the first time are experiencing their first Christmas without their loved one. As they look around the room, they are amazed to see so many families feeling the same way that they do. We hope that this little program can bring peace to people in remembering those who have gone on before us and yet are still so fresh in our memories that it hurts,” Bryant said.

All proceeds from the Memory Tree CD decorations stay in the community and help the Special Olympics athletes. “Washakie County Special Olympics is very appreciative of the generosity of our community! It’s nice to know that the community stands behind us in keeping our program running. Special Olympics is not only fun, but it is something that allows the athletes to participate in healthy activity for exercise and socialization,” Bryant stated.

ANGEL TREE

In the Big Horn Federal Bank, ANB Bank, Security State Bank and Blair’s Market in Worland, trees can be found with children’s names on them. These trees are called Angel Trees and the names on the trees are names of children with gift suggestions. The children’s names are from families who will be receiving Christmas food baskets from the Washakie County Ministerial Association.

Anyone interested in helping these children have a Merry Christmas, just needs to take a name, purchase a gift or gifts and return them to the business hosting the tree before the deadline posted by the business. “These gifts will be delivered or picked up with the food baskets on Dec. 15 and Christmas will be more joyful for many children in the area,” Angel Tree director Nancy Frederick said.