Stacy Brown

Make Shopping, Decorating Safer

BY STACY BROWN

Woodstock’s police and fire and rescue departments have some tips to keep you and your loved ones, and your property, safe this season. You can make a big difference by taking time to think through holiday shopping scenarios and taking care while trimming your tree.

Safe Shopping

• Lock your cars and remove your valuables. Don’t leave purses and packages in plain sight. Do not leave firearms in your automobile. Never leave your car running and unattended in your driveway, especially if there are children in the car. • Avoid porch pirates by having packages delivered to work instead of your home. Leave specific instructions for delivery drivers. Install security cameras, network with your neighbors, or use a smart lock. • When shopping at night, stay alert and park in well-lit areas. Don’t purchase more than you can carry without a cart, and have your car keys out before you leave the store.

If you are shopping with children, make a plan for what to do if you are accidentally separated. • If you are shopping online, be sure your computer is safe by installing anti-virus software. Also, use secure websites for purchases. Look for https in the URL. • Keep your doors at home locked and gifts out of sight.

On garbage pickup day, don’t advertise to criminals that you have a new TV or other expensive electronics. Break down merchandise packaging fully, and place it inside trash bins.

Decorating Tips

• Check the water in live Christmas trees daily. Dried-out trees pose a greater fire risk. Turn off your holiday lights before leaving the house or going to sleep. • Decorating for the holidays is a great time to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and create or review your emergency exit plan with each member of your household. • When cooking holiday meals with small children present, use the back burners of the stove instead of the front when possible, and turn pot handles to the back.

Wishing you a safe and wonderful holiday season!

Stacy Brown is the marketing and communications manager for the city of Woodstock. She can be reached at 770-592-6056 or sbrown@woodstockga.gov.

Lend a Helping Hand

As Christmas approaches, the needs among local nonprofits have increased as the directors and volunteers are working to make sure everyone has a great holiday season. Here’s a list of organizations devoted to helping others. Please do what you can to pitch in, whether it’s donating money or time. While you’re at it, consider bringing a basket of homemade goodies, fresh fruit or colorful flowers to show your appreciation for the staff and volunteers at these nonprofits.

Adopt a Senior 2021

www.cherokeega.com

Cherokee County Senior Services is collecting the following gift items for local seniors: a bath towel set, a $25 grocery gift card and a book of stamps. Please place gifts in a holiday gift bag (no wrapping please). Gift drop-off is Mondays-Fridays through Dec. 6, and a special Saturday drop-off is 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 4. Gifts may be taken to the Cherokee County Senior Center, 1001 Univeter Road, in Canton. For more information, call 770-345-3025 or email aomicham@cherokeega.com.

Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program

https://bit.ly/3lkJMlV

Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program is looking for candidates for the Holiday Adopt A Vet program. The focus is to help low-income veterans, those in senior living facilities, as well as homeless veterans this holiday season. If you know of a veteran family in need, or you want to help volunteer for this program, contact Betty Lewis of the American Legion Post 45 Auxiliary, at 770-318-6451.

Items are needed for the program’s annual drives and events, such as 10 bicycles for boys or girls for the Adopt A Vet program. Donors also can drop off gently used winter coats for the annual coat drive, Christmas cards for senior veterans (they do not have to be personalized), toiletries, flashlights with batteries, hand warmers, good gloves, emergency blankets and first aid kits to American Legion Post 45, 160 McClure St., in Canton. To schedule a donation drop-off, contact Jim Lindenmayer at 678983-7590 or jlindenmayer80@gmail.com. Cherokee Family Violence Center

www.cfvc.org/donate-now

Cherokee Family Violence Center has a transitional housing complex, with 72 apartments and an emergency shelter that accommodates 12 women and children affected by domestic violence. The Christmas wish list includes weekly meals through the holidays for shelter residents, canned items (like soups, meats, fruits and vegetables) and over-the-counter medications for cold and flu season. Additional donation items include unscented laundry pods, dishwashing pods, paper towels, toilet paper, paper plates, plastic utensils, new pillows, white linens for twin and full beds, white towel sets (washcloths, bath towels and hand towels) and new undergarments for all ages. Contact 770-479-1804, Ext. 101, or volunteers@cfvc.org.

Cherokee Recreation & Parks Agency

www.playcherokee.org

Items to support seniors in need are being collected through Dec. 15. Donors can bring a new warm blanket and new slipper socks to the recreation center at 7545 Main St., Building 200, in Woodstock. For more information, contact Bailey Johnson at bbjohnson@cherokeega.com or 770-924-7768.

The Children’s Haven

www.CherokeeChildrensHaven.org

This nonprofit promotes the health and happiness of children in Cherokee affected by abuse. The group works to ensure their safety, advocate on their behalf and respond to meet their needs. Holiday needs include Christmas/holiday/winterthemed pajamas (sizes newborn to teen), as well as gift cards for Target, Kohl’s, Best Buy and similar stores. Volunteers always are needed to assist in the Caregiver’s Closet. Items can be dropped off at 1083 Marietta Highway in Canton. 770-345-3274.

Encompass Ministries

https://encompassministriesinc.org

Encompass Ministries and its food pantry offer year-round food and stability, as well as life-skills training assistance. Special holiday needs: donations of turkeys, ham and nonperishable food items. A list of the top 10 food needs is kept up-to-date on the website. Tax-deductible donations also are accepted on the website. For more details, call 770-591-4730.

Lend a Helping Hand

Forever Fed www.foreverfed.org

Forever Fed hosts drive-through food pantries and clothes closets in outdoor settings every month. Donations of non-perishable foods always are needed. For a complete list of events and volunteer opportunities, check the website. If your organization would like to support us with a food drive or coat and blanket drive, contact susan@ foreverfed.org or call 678-883-3314.

Goshen Valley Foundation

www.goshenvalley.org

Goshen Valley Boys Ranch attempts to provide a memorable Christmas experience for foster children, with the community’s help. This includes building traditions, talking about the true meaning of Christmas, as well as fulfilling young people’s wants and needs through gift giving, to teach them that they are loved. With 42 kids to purchase gifts for, Goshen Valley relies on the generosity of the community to fulfill these wishes. A list of gifts has been compiled on the Amazon website through a charity wishlist. For details, visit http://goshenwishlist.org, email Executive Director Stacy Cooper at scooper@goshenvalley. org or call 770-796-4618 for a clickable link to view gifts the boys have requested.

MUST Ministries — Cherokee

www.mustministries.org

MUST Ministries long has been a source of help and hope to those living in poverty in Cherokee County. Christmas toy donations can be dropped off 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m, by Dec. 2, or as soon as possible, at MUST’s Canton location at 111 Brown Industrial Parkway. Call Maurice Speaks at 770-721-2924 or email mspeaks@mustministries.org.

MUST Ministries Christmas toy needs include:

Teen Gifts

• Jewelry and watches • Adult coloring books and colored pencils • Headphones/earbuds • Sports equipment (balls, gloves, bat, skateboard) • Makeup kits • Calligraphy sets • Hair dryers/flat iron • Cologne/perfume/bath sets • Purses, wallets and belts

Toys for Ages 0-12

• Educational toys • Helmets and large bikes • Ethnic baby and

Barbie dolls • Jackets and scarves • Legos • Blankets • Diapers • Hats and gloves • Hot Wheels tracks Never Alone

www.NeverAlone.org

The food pantry is seeking partners to help fight hunger in the community. The pantry provides more than 126,100 meals to approximately 800 households each month. Never Alone’s partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank allows it to purchase food at greatly discounted prices. Tax deductible donations can be made online at www.NeverAlone.org, or by check, made payable to and mailed to: Never Alone Outreach, P.O. Box 1904, Woodstock, GA 30188.

North Georgia Angel House

www.angelhousega.com

The organization has served girls since 2006, by providing shelter, life skills, job readiness services, family support and more, for up to 40 females at a time. Current needs include: MP3 players, earbuds, gift cards for clothing or activities in the area and journals. Visit the website to donate, or shop on Amazon Smile and select North Georgia Angel House Inc as your charity to support.

Secret Santa

www.cherokeesanta.com

The Secret Santa program of the Department of Family and Children’s Services of Cherokee County offers a way for individuals, businesses, schools, churches or groups such as Sunday school classes or Boy and Girl Scout troops, to help the more than 375 children in foster care this year. Sponsors can be matched with specific children or collect speciality items needed to service the program. All levels of contributions are accepted. All size donations are appreciated. For more details, call the Secret Santa phone line at 470-333-8673.

Toys for Tots www.toysfortots.org

Toys for Tots is a national program started by the Marine Corps. Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys year round to distribute to children in need during the holiday season, as a way of spreading joy to the less fortunate. Visit the website for the most updated list of collection sites near you.