Several churches in the Yelm community are set to give back to families in need during the holiday season as they host clothing drives, hot meals and an “Angel Tree.”
Yelm Prairie Christian Center will serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 501 NE 103rd Ave. NE. They also offer free to-go dinners on Thursday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. at their location.
In preparation for Thanksgiving and the holiday season, the Yelm Prairie Christian Center is seeking donations of Thanksgiving related items, but they will gladly accept other items as well.
“We often see families that come to us asking for Thanksgiving related items,” Glenda Ott, an administrative assistant at Yelm Prairie Christian Center, said. “We know that families can struggle during the holiday season and we just want to provide some relief.”
Following Thanksgiving, the Yelm Prairie Christian Center will transition into preparations for Christmas. They’ve recently partnered with a non-governmental organization called Save the Children. Ott believes the partnership will allow the center to impact more families during the holiday season.
“(Save the Children) is going to be bringing us some toys and books in a couple of weeks. We won’t get to keep them all, we’ll keep half,” Ott said. “But our partnership with them will allow them to accommodate some of their inventory to our warehouse and give us additional items to hand out.”
Ott said the Yelm Prairie Christian Center typically offers an “Angel Tree” program that provides more specific items to children for Christmas.
The center will put up a Christmas tree featuring ornaments with names assigned to them. There will be a wishlist attached to the ornament.
“Our people come in, and the community can come in, and buy gifts for these families,” Ott said. “But our Angel Tree program is a truly special program.”
Ott said they are also looking for volunteers to help with the gift wrapping process.
“Being a part of this means everything to me. This is what Jesus wanted us to do, help those with less than what their needs were,” Ott, who has served the community through the Yelm Prairie Christian Center for six years, said. “You can say God bless you, but if you don’t really help someone out then what difference is being made?”
Crossroads Community Covenant Church
The Crossroads Community Covenant Church will also provide several options around the holiday season for people who are in need. The church already offers a yearround food and clothing bank, as well as community meals from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. During the community meal, the food and clothing banks are open.
During the community meal event on Saturday, Nov. 19, Crossroads Church will host a winter coat drive.
Jonny Vogel, with the Crossroads Community Covenant Church, said that there will be sizes for everyone.
Vogel added there will be a Thanksgiving day meal in the afternoon. It will feature some of the classic Thanksgiving fixtures, like turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes.
According to Vogel, a food drive will begin at the church on Nov. 27. They will collect “all sorts of food” for families during the holiday season. Then in December, Vogel said Crossroads Church will begin to put together its Christmas food basket program.
He said the church puts together the baskets as evenly as possible and families can come pick them up or have them delivered.
Those interested in the food basket program should call the church at 360-400-7877.
