Youth Act to help pack Share boxes

By LISA CHAPMAN / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Youth Act Club would like to remind Warren County that every dollar counts toward helping a family this Christmas. These members will be on hand Sunday, Dec. 18 to help pack food boxes for the Share A Christmas Dinner program. (Lisa Chapman photo)

The holidays can be a festive occasion, a time to enjoy being with friends and family.

But for those who don’t have the basic necessities of life, the holidays can be difficult to endure. That’s why the Southern Standard is once again collecting donations in an effort to make Christmas a happier time for those in need.

The newspaper is several weeks into its 25th annual Share A Christmas Dinner program.

Warren County Middle School’s Youth Act Club will be a big contributor this year by helping to pack the Share food boxes that go out to nearly 500 local residents.

“We want to help the needy this Christmas,” said Youth Act Club president Matt Martin. “Christmas is a time for giving.”

This is the second year the Youth Act Club has been involved in Share A Christmas Dinner. The kids learn a good lesson about helping their community says Susan Barrett, Breakfast Rotary sponsor.

“It humbles them to know how much this means to their community,” Barrett said.

Sharon Patrick, who coordinates Share A Christmas Dinner at the Standard, says the need appears to be high this year.

“The normal list I get from human services usually has around 200 names,” said Patrick. “It was double that this year.”

Share A Christmas Dinner donations can be mailed to Southern Standard c/o Share, P.O. Box 150, McMinnville, Tenn., 37111.