Charities that lend a hand can use one themselves this time of year

With Thanksgiving a week away, charities that help the needy at the holidays are looking for some help themselves.

Have a spare coat? Westside Ministries could use it.

Have some time? Turlock Together is looking for folks to sort canned food.

Maybe there are some spare paper plates and plastic utensils in your kitchen? Get in touch with Turlock Gospel Mission.

The Gospel Mission is looking to feed more than 400 people at a community dinner set for Thanksgiving Day outside the site of the organization’s new shelter on Broadway.

Volunteer coordinator Stephany Nielsen needs donations of money and grocery store gift cards, as well as plates and utensils. And she also could use some helping hands – volunteers to cook, serve and clean up after the dinner, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At Westside Ministries, employees and volunteers are collecting coats to give to needy children early next month. Youth minister Lydio Banana said the nonprofit group gives away more than 1,000 coats every year to children who are referred by their schools.

Westside accepts new and gently used coats – used coats can be dropped off at Carr’s Cleaners on Main Street, which cleans them for free.

“We’re also accepting toy donations,” said Banana. “We like to give a toy with the coat.”

The ministry also serves dinner to those who attend the giveaway. And Banana would like to find some hairdressers looking to give of their time and talent. “We like to offer a free haircut to children,” he said.

For those who would like to provide a coat but don’t have one, Westside accepts monetary donations, as well. And employees there have learned over the years how to stretch a dollar. Banana said working with retailers who give them steep discounts, they can get a new coat for a child for as little as $3.50.

Finally, Turlock Together is starting its drive to provide families with a holiday dinner and toys for children at Christmas. The group, a consortium of churches, service clubs and nonprofit groups, is collecting food and toys in barrels throughout the Turlock area.

Registration for the giveaway begins Dec. 1; distribution is Dec. 20. Between those dates, volunteers are needed to go through the donations and sort them.

“The volunteers we really need are in the evenings,” said Bob McCune, Turlock Together coordinator. “We’ve got 150 barrels in the community, collecting food, and we need to sort though it.”

Each year, Turlock Together provides roughly 2,000 families with two boxes each of perishable and nonperishable food items, as well as toys for the children. Students, service club members and church groups all pitch in to help, McCune said.

“It’s not the most exciting work, but most people, particularly the youngsters, seem to really enjoy it.”

To help the Turlock Gospel Mission, email stephany@turlockgospelmission.org. Monetary donations may be sent to P.O. Box 1231, Turlock, 95381, or online at www.turlockgospelmission.org/donate.

Coats for Westside Ministries’ drive can be dropped off at 950 Columbia St. Monetary donations may be sent to P.O. Box 354, Turlock 95381. For more information, call (209) 667-8593.

To volunteer or donate to Turlock Together, call McCune at (209) 678-5333 or go online to www.turlocktogether.org.

This story was originally published November 19, 2014 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Charities that lend a hand can use one themselves this time of year."