The angel tree in Portola’s Leonard’s Market sports an array of colorful paper angels Wednesday, Nov. 21. By Friday morning, all but two had been chosen! But don’t despair; there are plenty of other giving opportunities throughout the county.Photo by Carolyn Carter

Ingrid Burke

  The holidays are known for being filled with food, family and those beautiful mornings frosted in fresh snow. But they can also mean a time of stress, cold and hunger for the less fortunate. Giving anonymously to those in need truly embodies the spirit of the season. Involving children and teens in giving makes a stand against the encroachment of selfishness and materialism.

  Besides monetary donations — which support unforeseen or unmet needs — organizations commonly request three types of items:

  —Food. Unopened, non-perishable food items will stock food bank shelves, or be packaged into holiday baskets for needy families.

  —Clothing. Warm clothing can be new or (often) gently used. Go through closets, purchase at local businesses or find those nearly new treasures at secondhand stores.

  —Angel trees. Organizations set up Christmas trees decorated with paper angels in various easily accessible venues. Each angel lists pertinent information about a needy child: age, clothing sizes, hobbies, specific Christmas wishes, etc. Donors choose an angel, then collect a box of gifts for him or her and deliver it to the organization, where employees will pass it on to the child. Whole families can often be “adopted” together, so siblings can be gifted equally.

  Many donations to nonprofits are tax-deductible; just ask for a receipt.

  And remember to shop locally, even in charitable giving. Money spent in local communities stays in local communities.

COUNTYWIDE

Plumas County Sheriff’s Association Needy Children’s Christmas Program

  The Plumas County Sheriff’s Employees Association works with other county service organizations to “provide a happy holiday season for those families who are not able to do so.” Donated funds are used to purchase food, toys, winter clothing, heating fuel and other necessities.

  Drop off food, toys, clothing or monetary donations at any sheriff’s office:

  Main office, 1400 E. Main St., Quincy; Portola Substation, 324 S. Gulling; Greenville Substation, Highway 89; Chester Substation, First and Willow.

  Monetary donations can also be mailed to P.O. Box 37, Quincy, CA 95971. Make checks out to PCSA/Needy Children’s Fund.

  To sign up for toys and clothing or to submit the name of a child or family in need, contact the sheriff’s office or substations. Nominations of families in need must be received by Dec. 19.

  The association is especially seeking individuals or groups that would like to sponsor families.

  For more information, call Becky Grant at 283-6375.

CHESTER/LAKE ALMANOR

Almanor Basin Community Resource Center food baskets

  The ABC Resource Center provides 50 Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner baskets each year for local families in need.

  Families in need can sign up for a basket at the center, 372 Main St. in Chester.

  The resource center also offers three food distributions each month: USDA commodities are given out to the income eligible on the second Friday of each month, and a separate program provides for the distribution of other food goods on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

  For more information or to donate, call 258-4280, visit plumasruralservices.org or stop by the resource center.

Helping Hands Food Pantry

  Though the pantry has received generous help this year from the Elks Lodge and Boy Scouts, Pastor Nick Miller says that need is especially high in the winter. The pantry accepts monetary donations and nonperishable food items, and it is located at the back of the Wesleyan Church on the corner of Melissa and Gay streets. Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1 – 3 p.m.

Lake Almanor Elks Lodge No. 2626 Christmas Angel Project

  The Elks serve needy families in the Chester, Westwood and Greenville areas by providing toys, boots, gloves, jackets and food baskets.

  Monetary contributions and nonperishable food items are accepted. A food donation box is available at David Price Jeweler in Chester. Checks can be mailed to Lake Almanor Elks Lodge No. 2626, Attn: Christmas Angel Project, P.O. Box 1329, Chester, CA 96020.

  Schedule a donation pickup by calling Kay Alcorn at 596-3153.

  The donation deadline is Dec. 15; any items or cash received after that date will be saved to start next year’s program.

Treats Dog Co. pet food drive

  Donations of canned pet food items will be accepted at the Main Street business during a visit from “Santa Paws” on Dec. 1, from 1 to 3 p.m. Donations will be passed on to Plumas Animal Welfare Society to help needy pets in Plumas County, and donors receive perks like photos of their pets with Santa Paws, and refreshments. For more information contact 258-0323.

GREENVILLE/INDIAN VALLEY

Indian Valley Food Pantry annual holiday food drive

  At Evergreen Market, a $10 donation buys $20 worth of food for food pantry shelves.Especially needed are canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and cereals. The market is located on Highway 89, across from Greenville Junior-Senior High School, and the drive will run up until Christmas.

Indian Valley Hospital Thrift Shop free coats

  The store at 802 Main St. in Greenville, across from Sterling Sage, offers free coats for school-age children. Hours are Wednesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., closed on holidays. Call 284-7949 for details.

Indian Valley Resource Center angel tree

  An angel tree will be set up by Sunday, Dec. 2, in Evergreen Market. Family “adoptions” are also needed; contact Family Advocate Tami Williamson at 284-1560 for more information.Needy families may sign up in Greenville, either at thecenter, 209 Highway 89;the Roundhouse Council, on the corner of Bush and Grand streets; or the tribal office, located in Unit 2 of the Indian Valley Professional Building on Highway 89, across from the gas station.

United Methodist Thrift Shop assistance

  The store on Pine Street offers help to the needy with clothing, bedding and household requirements. Contact Marj Goosey, 284-1421, for more information.

PORTOLA/EASTERN PLUMAS

Eastern Plumas Community Assistance Network

  EPCAN operates primarily in the Portola and Graeagle areas and provides food for families in need.

  EPCAN uses monetary donations to purchase food for the community food bank, which is open Monday through Thursday, two hours a day.

  This year EPCAN will be partnering with the sheriff’s department to hand out holiday meal baskets. For more information or food vouchers call 832-4570.

Eastern Plumas Health Care coat drive

  EPHC says, “Some of our children need a little extra help for the holidays — please give if you can!” Coats for kids, size infant through teen, will be accepted at EPHC clinics in Graeagle, Greenville, Loyalton and Portola, and in the hospital lobby at 500 First Ave. in Portola. The goal is to collect 75 coats.

  Donations will go to Santa’s Workshop, to be included in the Plumas County sheriff’s office holiday giving programs.

  Monetary donations are also accepted, and will go toward purchasing coats, scarves and mittens.

  Donations will be accepted through Dec. 14. For more information, call Cathy Conant at 832-6567 or Regina Martinez in nursing administration at 832-6510.Check or cash donations can be made out toEPHC and given to Tiffany Williams in administration, 832-6564.

Holiday Helping Hands

  Angel trees have already been available for several weeks in Leonard’s Market in Portola, Graeagle Store in Blairsden and Wiggin’s Trading Post in Chilcoot.

  Sheriff’s association rules will be implemented: only children 15 and younger are eligible, and families can only receive assistance for three years. Leave angel tree gifts unwrapped.

  For more information call the Portola Family Resource Center at 832-1827.

QUINCY

Community Assistance Network

  The CAN food bank is located next to St. John’s Catholic Church at 176 Lawrence St.

  To donate or request food, visit the church or Plumas Crisis Intervention and Resource Center. Also, look for donation boxes at Quincy businesses, including Feather Publishing. For more information, call Geri Bernard at 283-0262.

Feather Publishing Co. food drive

  Drop off donations of canned and non-perishable food items at the Feather River Bulletin office, 287 Lawrence St. Hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday.

  Donations will be accepted through Friday, Dec. 14.

  For more information, call 283-0800.

Feather River College Uganda projects

  The FRC Enactus and Business and Entrepreneurship Center groups are planning a trip to Uganda in January. As part of the H2O: Helping to Overcome project, students will help install a pipeline for clean water.

  They will also be purchasing pigs for families directly from local farmers in the village, providing both an economic infusion for farmers and a sustainable source of protein and income for families who receive pigs.

  Monetary donations are welcome. The cost per pig is $70. Checks with “Mbarare pigs” in the memo line can be made out to H2O: Helping to Overcome, and sent to P.O. Box 487, Modesto, CA 95353.

  Amy Schulz at FRC is also collecting contributions to submit to H2O. She can be reached at 283-0202, ext. 358, or aschulz@frc.edu.

  Students plan to pack their suitcases with clothing for the villagers, and donations of any clothing items except heavy winter coats are welcome. Schulz is also the contact for clothes donations.

Junior High S-Club food drive

  The Quincy Junior High Service Club is hosting a food drive. Any non-perishable food items will be accepted. Boxes are located in all junior high classrooms and the office in the student activities room.

  Monetary donations can be taken to Mrs. Stirling in Room 26.

Plumas Crisis Intervention and Resource Center

  Donations especially needed at this time of year are warm clothing items for transitional housing clients; tents, blankets and sleeping bags for the homeless; and infant items. Monetary donations are also welcome. Drop off donations at the center’s temporary location at 546 Lawrence St. (previously AAA). Hours are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed 1 – 2 p.m. for lunch.

  A coat drive will start soon. An angel tree is set up in the lobby of Bank of America; another will follow in the Plumas Bank lobby Dec. 7, in celebration of Sparkle.

  Those in need can pick up CAN food vouchers Monday and Thursday mornings. Referrals come through agencies only.

  For more information, call Susie at 283-5515.

Plumas Rural Services Domestic Violence Services

  Though the DVS office just completed a toiletries drive in October, staffers say they always welcome donations of new toiletry items for the domestic violence shelter. Also needed are new bed sheets (twin size), infant items and children’s toys and books.

  Since domestic violence victims often need to start a new household from scratch, the office also accepts a limited number of gently used household necessities.

  The office is located at 711 E. Main St. Call Candy at 283-5675 for more information.

To report additional charitable giving opportunities, email iburke@plumasnews.com.