For the 18th year, the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit Alliance, along with Ozark Action, representatives from West Plains R-7 School District and area rural schools, law enforcement, businesses and other community groups, will once again join forces for the West Plains Communitywide Christmas Assistance Program to help those in need.
For this program to be successful, the committee is asking for community involvement. There are many ways to assist this program, say committee members: Conducting a toy drive, adopting a family or contributing monetary donations are some of the ways to get involved. Supporters can learn ways to lend aid by accessing a donor form that is available at the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce office, 401 Jefferson Ave., or Ozark Action, 710 E. Main St.
For planning purposes, donor forms are due no later than Nov. 30, said organizers.
West Plains families in need of assistance can pick up an application form at the Ozark Action office.
The program committee compiles a centralized database of applicants, which helps prevent the duplication of services and provides the ability to serve more of those in need.
While filling out an application does not guarantee assistance, the committee makes every effort to help each qualified applicant. Last year, with the help of the agencies involved, plus donations from area businesses, individuals, organizations and churches, volunteers were able to serve more than 160 households, including 376 individuals.
This year’s deadline to apply for assistance is Dec. 4.
Any individual, company, organization or church that would like to help someone this holiday season can be matched with someone in need by the committee. Groups that already have an assistance project in place are asked to consider sharing the names of those they are helping with the Christmas Assistance Committee. The committee will eliminate those names from its master list, and free up resources to serve even more people.
For a donor application, call the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce office at 417-256-4433 or Ozark Action at 417-256-6147.
