Sieda Christmas Programs Across the Counties

With the help of our partner organizations, generous givers and supporters, many wonderful donations, and lots of volunteer hours another season of giving was a success. Many needy households were provided help during a time of the year that can make anyone’s financial situation more difficult. For the 15.7% of the population averaged across Sieda’s seven counties that are below the poverty level this time a year can bring dreed rather than joy.

The groups, businesses, and individuals in the communities that Sieda Community Action serves have shown once again why we are proud to be a part of these great counties. In five of our counties, Sieda Christmas Programs were able to provide gifts for families and individuals qualifying for assistance. In total, we all were able to help 1,133 households and more than 2,376 individuals with food and gifts this year.

Your efforts help make a very happy holiday for these households in our community!

Appanoose County Silver and Gold Christmas Program

The Sieda Appanoose County Resource Center provided seniors food and other donated items. Sieda would like to thank the individuals in the community who donated non-perishable foods, cold weather items, and toiletries for senior gifts. We appreciate the help we received from Faith United Methodist Church and Hy-Vee donating food and Walmart donating money to purchase food for the Christmas bags. Thanks to everyone, the Sieda Resource Center was able to provide a total of 72 senior households, equaling 79 individuals a Silver and Gold gift bag and other needed items.

Davis County ICARE Program

The Davis County community came together to help provide gifts to 177 children and 61 food boxes to those that applied to ICARE. ICARE is a countywide effort to bring gifts to children and food boxes to families. The Davis County Sieda Resource Center takes the ICARE applications for families in need. Households with no children can apply for a food box, and families with children (0-18) can apply for the box plus put down their children’s toy wishes and clothing sizes. ICARE applicants get a food box with a ham, milk, fruit, canned goods, toilet paper and other nice things.

We and Ann Morgan, who directs the program, want to thank all the generous donors who adopt a child or family. We can’t thank all the individuals, clubs, and churches enough for adopting and donating. Thank you, Keith’s Foods who host the Angel Tree with children’s wishes and the Davis County Fair Board who provided a space at the fairgrounds to store items and distribute them. Optimist Club, local churches, and Davis High School sent volunteers to help pack boxes and distribute. It is amazing that with the help of so many in the community 298 individuals throughout 121 households received a little help this Christmas.

Jefferson County Sieda Children’s Christmas Program

The Children’s Christmas Program at the Sieda Jefferson County Resource Center had yet another great year. The Jefferson County community came together to donate their time and gifts to help share the spirit of warmth for the holidays. There isn’t enough room on this page to list all the individuals, families, groups, churches, banks, clinics, and businesses that support in any way they can to make this a better Christmas for a child and their family. There are three we want to at least mention. Thank you, Greater Jefferson County Grant Foundation, Jonas Magram Children’s Holiday Benefit Concert, and a woman in the community that shops clearance sales all year and donates her bargains to the Christmas program.

Thanks to the generosity of the community 590 children received gifts. Your amazing donations not only helped provide toys, clothing, and other items but helped 252 families with a financially stressful time of year. Donated slightly used adult and children’s clothing and shoes, toys, items, and Christmas decorations were set out to help with any other needs the families might have. The Resource Center was able to have a drawing for larger donated items.

Mahaska County Resource Center Christmas

For Christmas 2017 the Mahaska County Resource Center with the help of the community provided 428 Children gifts for Christmas. We could not have reached all these children and helped give a little Christmas cheer to the 171 households they belonged to without the groups, businesses, and individuals that opened their hearts. We can’t thank all of the individuals but we would like to thank the groups that helped. Thank you, Cargill Oskaloosa, Clow Valve Company, Homestead of Oskaloosa, Interpower Corporation, Mahaska Bottling Company, MidAmerican Energy, Musco Sports Lighting, Oskaloosa Police Department, and Pella Corp. The Oskaloosa Police Department distributed gifts for two days and the Central United Methodist Church opened their doors once again for Sieda to distribute gifts. Making Christmas 2017 run smooth and easy.

The Mahaska community is amazing!

Wapello County Children’s Christmas & Silver Bells Programs

Wapello County Resource Center held two Christmas Programs with the help of the community. Silver Bells for the seniors provided gifts for 195 households with a total of 217 individuals. For the Children’s program with individuals and business support, 316 households with a total of 759 children were adopted or given a chance to choose items on Sieda Resource Center shopping day.

For more information on Silver Bells and all the wonderful help we received, visit: www.sieda.org/2017/12/13/sieda-silver-bells-program-2017/

The Children’s Christmas Program was made a big success with the Ottumwa Fire Department’s Sparky Claus and many in the community donating and adopting. We could not reach so many without everyone’s support and generosity. Families adopted pick-up their children’s gifts when they are called and for those not adopted they have an adult come and choose from toys, clothing, and items. The Salvation Army was able to be a part of the day, providing other items for the families to choose from and we had many great volunteers come help.