News briefs: Be a Santa to a senior; Salvation Army needs volunteers

Be a Santa to a senior

Be a Santa to a Senior program provides gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.

The program is sponsored by the Home Instead Senior Care office serving York, Lancaster and Chester counties.

“There are so many seniors, right here in in our communities that have nothing and no one,” said Carol Horton, owner of the local Home Instead Senior Care office. “Through this program, we are able to show them they are valuable members of our community and people still care.”

Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with Catawba Area Agency on Aging and Golden Corral Rock Hill to help with the gift collection and distribution.

The Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas tree is on display at Golden Corral, 1031 Anderson Road, through Dec. 14 featuring ornaments with seniors’ first names and their gift requests. Shoppers can pick ornaments from the tree, buy the item and return them unwrapped (and with the ornament attached) to the store.

For more information, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 803-817-1901.

Salvation Army needs volunteers

Volunteers are needed through Dec. 17 to sort toys and pack bags for children being served through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree in Rock Hill.

To sign up go to signupgenius.com/go/30e0d44a4a92da6ff2-thesalvation.

The Salvation Army is at 119 S. Charlotte Ave.

For more information, call 803-448-3133.

Dine Dec. 17 to help AAL

Animal Adoption League will hold a fundraiser 4-9 p.m. Dec. 17 at Bob Evans, 520 John Ross Parkway.

AAL provides veterinary care and temporary-to-permanent housing for homeless and rescued animals; to provide the best adoptive situation and outlet for the permanent placement of these animals. Visit mynextpet.com for more information.

Papa Elf’s sales help charities

Papa Elf’s Christmas Trees lot is open at The Mulch Yard, 5946 Charlotte Highway.

A portion of the proceeds go to Merge Ministries and Neighbor to Neighbor programs.

“We could have never imagined that selling Christmas trees would turn into an opportunity to help our community, but that is what has happened,” said Kim Trainer, of the family-owned lot.

They also offer a program called Buy a Tree, Give a Tree asking donors to purchase trees for families in the community. Trainer said they have been asked to help families in Clover School District, McAdenville Elementary School in McAdenville, N.C., and Hope 4 Gaston in Gastonia.

“Last year we gave away 40 trees,” Trainer said. “This year our challenge is 170 trees.”

Hours are 4-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.

Trees start at $35 and are Fraser firs sized 4 to 12 feet. Wreaths, garland, crafts, baked goods and hot chocolate also will be for sale.

For more information, call 678-787-6003 or email Mergeministries@gmail.com.

Libraries collecting food for fines

York County libraries will collect Food for Fines through Dec. 31 to encourage the return of overdue library materials while giving back to the community.

Library users may pay off fines for overdue materials with nonperishable food and personal hygiene items. For each donated item, $1 will be credited to outstanding fines, but will not cover the cost of lost or damaged materials.

All types of nonperishable food items, toiletries and disposable diapers will be collected. Items will be donated to York County area food banks in the community in which they are given to help replenish supplies depleted by the high demand of the holidays. Library patrons are encouraged to participate even if they have no outstanding library fines.

York County libraries are in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Clover, Lake Wylie and York. Donations will also be accepted on the Bookmobile. For more information, visit yclibrary.org.

Blood drives scheduled

Community Blood Center of the Carolinas will hold a drawing for two Carolina Panthers Club Seat tickets and a parking pass for the Jan. 3 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

All donors who donate blood or platelets at one of CBCC’s blood centers or mobile blood drives through Wednesday, Dec. 30 will be entered into the ticket drawing. Schedule an appointment at one of CBCC’s centers or blood drives by calling 704-972-4700 or visiting cbcc.us.

Also, Community Blood Center of the Carolinas is holding its 11th annual Puppies for Patients program. Donors who give blood this month may sign a gift tag to be attached to a stuffed toy puppy, and delivered by CBCC to children in area hospitals and care facilities during the holidays.

The following York County blood drives are scheduled:

▪ 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 11, Piedmont Medical Center, 222 S. Herlong Ave., Rock Hill.

▪ 2-5:30 p.m. Dec. 13, Regal Manchester Stadium 14, 1935 Cinema Drive, Rock Hill. Free ticket voucher for donors.

▪ 12:30-3:30 p.m. Dec. 19, Regal Manchester Stadium 14, 1935 Cinema Drive, Rock Hill. Free ticket voucher for donors.

▪ 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 19, Lake Ridge Community, 1040 Angelica Lane, Tega Cay.

▪ 12:30-3:30 p.m. Dec. 21, Strikers Family Sportscenter, 124 N. Anderson Road, Rock Hill.

▪ 1-4 p.m. Dec. 22, Cox’s Harley Davidson, 1178 Galleria Blvd., Rock Hill.

▪ 1-4 p.m. Dec. 22, Luke’s Sports Bar & Grill, 465 S Herlong Ave., Rock Hill.

Call 704-972-4700 or go to cbcc.us to make an appointment at any location.

Boat parade launches Dec. 12

The Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce’s 27th annual Lights on the Lake Holiday Boat Parade will be Dec. 12, launching from T-Bones on the Lake docks.

New this year there will be a preview of decorated boats the evening of Dec. 11, said chamber president Susan Bromfield.

Returning for its second year on the lawn of T-bones is Christmas by the Lake, which includes warming stations thanks to local churches and groups with free cocoa and hot cider, a live nativity, Christmas music, luminary release to kick off the parade and a visit from Santa.

Christmas by the Lake runs 4-7 p.m.

Boaters will line up at by 6 p.m. for the boat captains meeting. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m.

Awards will be presented to the participant with the most creative lighting display.

Early registration costs $20 by Dec. 10. Late and same-day registration is $25. Registration forms are available at lakewyliesc.com.

Food donations for Clover Area Assistance Center and unwrapped toys for children of all ages for Santa’s Sleigh will be accepted at the chamber’s tent.

Call 803-831-2827 or email lakewyliechamber@yahoo.com for more information.

Warming centers open in Rock Hill

The United Way of York County, Bethel United Methodist Church and The Salvation Army will set up Winter Warming Centers for the homeless. Last year, the centers served more than 200 men, women and children at two locations.

Locations and times available are:

▪ Women and Children’s Warming Center: The Salvation Army, 119 Charlotte Ave., Rock Hill. The center will be open each night at 6 p.m. through March 20.

▪ Men’s Warming Center: Bethel United Methodist Church, 1232 Curtis St., Rock Hill. The center will be open each night at 6 p.m. through March 13.

Volunteers are needed to serve nightly meals. Donations of specific items will be needed. For more information, visit UnitedWayofYC.org or call 803-324-5141.

Support agency funding available

The United Way of York County is accepting requests for New Agency Program funding for year 2016-2017.

UWYC provides financial support to organizations addressing health care, financial stability or education. Organizations must qualify as eligible providers as a first step in the funding process. Becoming an eligible provider does not guarantee a subsequent funding award. Eligibility applications are due by noon Jan. 15.

Agencies must meet United Way of York County criteria: have nonprofit status, serve residents of York County, registered with the S.C. Secretary of State Office, provide agency DUNS number, meet financial accounting standards, practice nondiscrimination.

If interested in applying, call 803-324-2735 or email tpeterson@unitedwayofyc.org.

Volunteers needed for free tax service

AARP will offer free tax preparation in 2016 at the Fort Mill Library in Baxter Village and volunteers preparers are needed.

Those interested in helping with tax return preparation or in helping clients in other ways can visit AARP.org/taxvolunteer to sign up.

Study guides will be provided to help volunteers become certified. There will be an organizational meeting in mid-December and training will take place the first week in January.

This is an all-volunteer program and tax preparations will begin Feb. 2 and will continue every Tuesday and Thursday until April 14.

Make-A-Wish volunteers needed

Make-A-Wish South Carolina holds volunteer interest webinars at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month.

Registration in advance is required. Bilingual volunteers are especially needed. Call 864-250-0702 for details.

Veterans group meets in Lake Wylie

The Point Man International Ministries group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at The Journey church.

Point Man is a veteran-to-veteran ministry with a primary service to offer spiritual healing from PTSD. Point Man also is involved in group meetings, hospital visits, conferences, supplying speakers for churches and veteran groups, welcome home projects and community support.

The organization, which includes more than 200 local outposts, reaches spiritually and emotionally wounded veterans.

The local group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

Email BudStrope@Point-Man-Ministries.org.

Cat rescuer seeks support

Carol Butler of Lake Wylie has set up a Go Fund Me account to help with her 16-year rescue efforts of cats.

To find out more about her efforts and and how to help with the feline medical bills, visit gofundme.com/CarolKingButler.

Clover gallery seeks artists

The town of Clover is accepting submissions for Gallery 120, 120 Bethel St.

Artists should email an artist bio and three hi-res images of work to gallery120@cloversc.org, and include Monthly Artist Feature Submission in subject line.

Gallery 120 opened in January. Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Call 803-222-9493 or visit cloversc.org.

This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 2:37 PM with the headline "News briefs: Be a Santa to a senior; Salvation Army needs volunteers."