Share-A-Christmas interviews set for Sept. 9-12

In its 49th year, the Share-A-Christmas program returns to help families in need of assistance by providing toys for children age 1-10, clothing vouchers for all ages and food baskets. The theme for this year’s program is “Sleigh Bells Ring, Are You Listening?”

“We are really blessed to have it in Tuscarawas County, and if it wasn’t for the generosity of the people in Tuscarawas County, this program would not have been able to be in effect for 49 years,” said Leslie Booth, director of the Tuscarawas County Council for Church and Community, which oversees the program. “This program was started to help people to get through hard times at Christmas.”

Share-A-Christmas served 850 families in Tuscarawas County in 2023 including 2,252 adults and 4,729 children.

This year, for the first time since COVID, T4C will hold in-person interviews for the program, where they will complete an application for the program.

“This year we are going back to the way they originally did it with in-person interviews,” said Booth, who is in her second year with the organization. “In order to fill out an application, they will have to come to the interviews. We’ll do the application and the interview at that time.”

This process should save volunteers time from having to track down any additional information.

The interviews will be held Sept 9-12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in New Philadelphia. Applicants will need to bring ID, proof of residency, and proof of income including food and housing assistance and child/spouse support.

No applications will be distributed in schools or libraries, and no applications will be accepted after Sept. 12.

“That’s why we’re trying to get it out there because we’ve had people say, ‘Well, I can’t get off of work.’ That’s why we want to give notice, so that they can make arrangements to get someone there,” Booth said.

The program has to work around the volunteers’ schedules too.

“Without the volunteers, Crystal (Hartline, office assistant coordinator) and I could not do this ourselves. There’s no way,” Booth said. “There’s a lot of preparation that goes into this. This is my second year in doing it, and it’s just amazing to see what all goes into it and the support that we have from the community.”

Anyone wanting to volunteer to help should contact the T4C office.

Afterward, volunteers will review the applications to ensure the family meets the guidelines for help. Letters will not be mailed to the applicants.

“Last year we had issues with the mail getting to the people in time or getting lost for some reason. So this year we will not be mailing their approval or denial letters,” Booth said.

After the application and interview is over, they’ll be given a paper with the program guidelines and a date and time they need to come to the T4C office to pick up the letter.

The program will distribute Kohl’s gift cards for clothing and food baskets. The distribution date for the toys will be Dec. 12 at New Towne Mall in the former Elder-Beerman store area. Families will receive a time to pick up their items that day to help keep the distribution process moving as smoothly as possible.

“The other thing we started this year is we’re also going to collect items for elderly men and elderly women,” Booth said.

There will be Giving Tree tags for elderly residents with the drop-off for those items being at local libraries in Tuscarawas County. Then those items will be put into gift baskets.

“The libraries are willing to be a drop-off site, and it’s been wonderful,” Booth said. “Our goal this year is to challenge different organizations and people to help us make lap throws. We would like to get every resident in the local nursing homes in Tuscarawas County a lap throw.”

Those wanting to help monetarily can send checks or money orders made payable to Share-A-Christmas, 1458 Fifth St. NW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663. Donations also are accepted on the website at www.t4conline.net or on the Facebook page, T4C.

Activities to gather donations include the Giving Tree toy program. Those wishing to donate can get Giving Tree ornaments and drop off toys on Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon at the former Elder-Beerman store at New Towne Mall. This event will be for toy donations only — no clothing and no books, except for coloring books and crayons.

The Indian Valley FFA/WJER Toy Drive at WJER radio station in Dover will be held Dec. 4 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. They will accept new toys only — no clothing and no books, except for coloring books and crayons.

Lahm Motor Co. at 119 N. Broadway St. in Sugarcreek will accept toys Nov. 26-27 and Dec. 2-3 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. — new toys only, no clothing and no books, except for coloring books and crayons.

The program will not distribute socks and underwear or hold food drives this year. Recipients will receive clothing vouchers in the form of Kohl’s gift cards to purchase clothing, and food pantries will distribute food. Anyone wishing to donate clothing or food should indicate that on their donation.

Call or email the T4C office at 330-343-6012 or office@t4conline.net.