Feature

story by Charis Patires

The season of giving

Several organizations offer a way for you to help bring Christmas to needy Lake area families this season. Thanks to these organizations, families will wake up Christmas morning with packages under the tree.

Citizens Against Domestic Violence

Citizens Against Domestic Violence in Camdenton has a list of families in need. Consider adopting one or more families to make sure they do not go without this Christmas. After signing up, donors will get a list of suggested gifts for their family. Donors are encouraged to wrap the parent’s gifts but to leave the children’s gifts unwrapped to allow the parents to wrap those gifts themselves.

Gifts need to be delivered to the shelter (45 5th Street, Camdenton) by Dec. 14.

Sign up by going to www.cadv-voc.org.

Rotary Club’s Candyland

The 38th annual Candyland, presented by the Lake Ozark Rotary Club, will be held Nov. 26-Dec. 16. Select a candy cane off of the tree at Nick’s True Value Hardware store or at the Osage Beach Tri-County YMCA. Each candy cane has a card with the name of a child in need in the community and their wish list. All you have to do is shop for the child and return the gifts to nick’s True Value Hardware. The Rotary Club will deliver all gifts. Cash donations are also welcome for donors who do not wish to shop.

Candyland was founded in 1984 and has served over 1,000 local children.

For more information, call Kevin Wood at 636-2628051 or email kevin@yourlake.com.

Child Advocacy Council

The Christmas is Sharing program is already underway, and the Child Advocacy Council expects to help provide gifts for between 600 to 1,000 kids this year.

For more than 40 years the council has been offering the program. While kids are their first priority, or-

ganizers say they also provide gifts to adults with disabilities, and all adults receive a food voucher and usually a small need is filled for them as well. While the Child Advocacy Council relies on state agencies such as school districts, family services and other organizations that assist families in Camden County to provide referrals of those in need, anyone can fill out a form if they are interested in becoming adopted. If you would like to adopt a family, stop by the Child Advocacy Council thrift store to Tons of gifts are collected during the annual Christmas for pick up a form, email Kids. ikillam1971@gmail.com Lake Media File photo or go to Child Advocacy Council on Facebook. Thrift store hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A family who wants to be adopted can also pick up a form. The forms must be completed and returned by Dec. 1. Monetary donations are welcome and can be mailed to Child Advocacy Council, Box 1002, Camdenton. For more information, call 573-346-0003.

Christmas for Kids

The Ozark Coast Kiwanis Club collects toys during the Christmas for Kids event. It will be held Dec. 4 from 6-11 p.m. at The Encore Lakeside Grill and Skybar. Doors open at 6 p.m. with Dueling Pianos playing from 7-11 p.m. while attendees enjoy complimentary appetizers, pictures with Santa and other entertainment. Table sponsorships are available. Everyone is encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy or a $20 donation to help provide gifts for families. A list of suggested gifts can be found online. For more information, go to www.lakeareachristmasforkids.com.