Holiday Guide 2014
; Operation Christmas Child............. 20 ; When Help Can’t Wait...................... 21 ; Putt-Putt........................................... 22 ; Fleet Feet........................................... 24
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samaritanspurse.org Syrian refugee children with their Operation Christmas Child boxes. Photo courtesy of Operation Christmas Child
As residents throughout the CSRA gear up for another Thanksgiving, many are expressing their gratitude by sharing their many blessings with children around the world who are facing, poverty, disease, war and natural disasters.
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hat began as a simple idea in 1993 has since become the worldwide ministry of Operation Christmas Child — to minister to children in war-torn and faminestricken countries. In just a little more than two decades, it has inspired everyday people to provide more than 113 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children in more than 150 countries. This year, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 10 million children, with 31,500 coming from the CSRA. Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. For months, area residents, families, church groups and other organizations have been busy filling empty shoeboxes with items such as toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of encouragement. This year’s National Collection Week is Nov. 17-24, a time when people throughout the area will drop their lovingly and carefully packed shoebox gifts at one of the several collection points throughout the CSRA. Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, will then deliver these gift-filled shoeboxes using any means necessary – whether by boat, plane, dog sled and even elephant – in order to reach the hands of needy children. “One of the greatest ways we can show our thankfulness this holiday season is by sharing and giving to those less fortunate,” said Lance Danko, Area Media Relations Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child. “The children who receive these gifts have so little. For many these
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shoeboxes will be the first gifts they ever receive. The simple act of receiving a shoebox can have a lifelong impact on a child who longs to experience joy and hope.” Lance and his wife, Madea, have been packing shoeboxes for many years and they currently serve as year-round volunteers for Operation Christmas Child. “We were especially drawn to this ministry because it gives us the opportunity to make a difference and touch the lives of children around the world right from our home in North Augusta,” Danko said. “It is something that almost anyone can do, regardless of their age. Even children can experience the joy of giving this season by picking out items and packing a shoebox for a child in need.” For more information about Operation Christmas Child, or how you can become involved as a year-round volunteer, call 800-353-5949, or visit samaritanspurse.org. Although National Collection Week is the ministry’s busiest time, shoebox gifts are collected throughout the year at the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, N.C. Participants can also avoid the holiday hustle and bustle by building a shoebox without ever leaving the comfort of their own homes through the use of an online tool. It offers a personalized and convenient way to send a gift to a child in one of the hardest-to-reach countries. Using special tracking technology, participants can follow their boxes online and discover the country in which their gifts will be delivered to children in need. To register a shoebox gift, use the online donation form at samaritanspurse.org.
Filling boxes for needy children in other parts of the world can bring a smile, as Gloria and Kyden Kiningham discovered. Photos by Jill Kauffman
Helen McVicker shows some of the designer-label clothes for sale in the discount boutique, The Classy Closet. Proceeds go to When Help Can’t Wait.
When Help Can’t Wait provides essentials for those nursing homes By Alexandrea Daitch When Helen McVicker saw nursing home residents in the hallways without shoes on their feet and holes in their sweaters, and no way to replace them, she knew she had to do something. “The men wanted hats on their heads to keep the heat in, and they didn’t have them,” McVicker said. “So I began to ask around, who can help these people who are in dire need?” The answer, it appeared, was no one. As a nursing home volunteer, McVicker’s hands were tied. The organization she volunteered for was government and state funded, which prevented her from giving anything to the residents because it would be considered preferential treatment. “You couldn’t even give them a cup of coffee,” McVicker said. After reaching out to several non-profits, McVicker found no help for this need. “Everyone said no, and shut the door in my face,” McVicker said. “There was nothing to do but to create a way to help.” In 2007 McVicker founded When Help Can’t Wait, a nonprofit organization that specializes in assisting the elderly in nursing homes. The organization started small and is continuing to grow each day. “We have grown by leaps and bounds” McVicker said, “because Augusta is a very generous city.” When Help Can’t Wait is a donationbased operation. Everything that they provide comes from the selflessness of other people. “We want to stress that we want people to donate everything.”
McVicker said, “We want your attic and we want your garage because what cannot be donated to a nursing home is sold to offset overhead and fund programs.” When Help Can’t Wait will have its tri-annual fundraising yard sale on Nov. 15 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at its location at 3814 Commercial Court, Martinez, and is taking donations for the sale. For more information, call 706-855-0715. While in-house inventory – provided by donations – fills the need of a variety of programs provided by the organization, some cash is also required. One source of that cash has been found by operating a discount clothing boutique inside their offices. The Classy Closet Boutique is a discount boutique that sells high-end items to help fund When Help Can’t Wait. The store inventory includes a variety of gently-used designer-label women (and some few men’s clothing) and accessories, as well as decorative household items. “If the donations cannot go into a nursing home, then we have an avenue to sell it,” McVicker said. “That income allows us to buy things that residents do need. Deodorant, lotion and soaps are all things that are a constant need. Currently, When Help Can’t Wait is in search of a sponsor, “We need someone to take us under their wing,” McVicker said. “I am not asking for cash, we need someone to sponsor and execute a large annual fundraising event that would provide a basis for our budget to build from.”
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Putt-Putt is the place to have fun Thanksgiving Week Parents and kids each get a chance to have some fun and save some money over the Thanksgiving holiday, leading right into the Christmas season! “We’re bringing back a pair of holiday favorites,” said Putt-Putt owner Mark Ross. “We know school is out all of Thanksgiving week in most of the CSRA. We also know most parents are getting ready for Thanksgiving or planning travel.” So from Monday-Friday of Thanksgiving Week, you can take care of shopping and cooking while your children spend up to five hours at Putt-Putt for just $13! That includes unlimited Putt-Putt, a game of Laser Tag, 20 tokens, a pizza slice and a drink. “For those parents looking for an easy, fun gift for family and friends, we suggest they stock up for stocking stuffers with our ‘Double Your Money’ gift card sale this year,” said Ross. These gift cards can be used for years as they never expire. The gift cards are good for all attractions and best of all, it’s a great value. “If you’ll spend $25, I’ll give you $50 in gift cards,” Ross said. “If you’ll spend $50, I’ll double that and give you $100 in gift
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cards!” Ross said, making him sound like Santa himself. Santa Ross’s elves will be planning for the special gift card sale, but will still
open on Thanksgiving Day at noon. They will set up big screen TVs to watch football, with plenty to eat and drink at the snack bar.
Putt-Putt is located at 3763 Martinez Boulevard (just off Washington Road at Baston Road). Contact them at 706-8680083 or visit augustabirthdayparties.com.
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Fleet Feet gives boutique experience to runners, walkers By Alexandrea Daitch Fleet Feet is all about the salon atmosphere when it comes to runners and walkers. From the aroma of the store to the attentiveness of the staff, it feels like you have entered into a boutique. Fleet Feet houses an extensive inventory of not only shoes, but also athletic wear and workout accessories. Owner Michael McCauley emphasizes the importance of finding the ideal fit, regardless if it is shoes or clothing. “Our goal is to know what your needs are,” McCauley said. The fitting process for shoes involves attention to detail. It takes from 20 minutes to an hour. The process begins with an interview, where customers are asked about their daily activity and also their athletic lives or goals. While the interview is taking place they are measuring your bare feet with an old-fashioned shoe-measuring device, both sitting down and standing to take into account flexibility and movement. They then have you walk around the store so they can observe your walking patterns. Following that process the Fleet Feet staff bring out several choices of shoes. With your input, they work until the fit is just right. “With a good pair of running shoes you shouldn’t need a break in period,” McCauley said. McCauley started in the shoe business working at a Fleet Feet in Greenville S.C. While working in the
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Fleet Feet owner Michael McCauley gives a custom fit to a customer in his store on Furys Ferry Road.
Greenville store he fell in love with the mission of Fleet Feet and after four years decided to open his own store in North Augusta in 2009. In 2012 he moved the store to Furys Ferry Road. “Running was a passion of mine” McCauley said, “It is easy to do what you love when you’re passionate about what you do. Selling shoes is not all they do. Fleet Feet’s other passion is promoting an active lifestyle. They work along side chiropractors and a team of in-house trainers to assist each customer’s needs. There are training programs set in place for beginner, intermediate and advanced, which provide people an opportunity to bring an active lifestyle into their lives. No matter what age or athletic ability, Fleet Feet offers programs that can help you to get where you want to be. A few years ago a woman in her 30s who had never run before began with a Fleet Feet program. Now she is training for triathlons. “We aim to inspire people, McCauley said. “But what happens is 9 times out of 10, they inspire us.” Fleet Feet holds events year round, such as Diva Night on Nov. 20. That event is targeted toward Fleet Feet’s feminine side, providing women with an evening of shopping, pampering and information on how to stay active. For more information regarding the event or the training programs offered at Fleet Feet call 706-9229860 or visit fleetfeetaugusta.com.