Groups prep for Christmas season

Two local organizations are seeking help with their efforts to make Christmas special for families in need.

Secret Families Christmas Charity of Jay County will hold its annual event on Dec. 8 and Mercer County Angel Tree Program is seeking help with purchasing gifts, volunteering or donating.

In preparation for the Secret Families event, during which volunteers deliver Christmas gifts to local families, the organization is looking for donations and volunteers. Those interested in donating money can do so by mailing checks to Secret Families Christmas Charity, P.O. Box 4, Dunkirk, IN 47336.

Volunteers can help shop at Walmart in Portland beginning at 6:30 a.m. Dec. 8, wrap gifts at Jay County High School at 8:30 a.m. or make deliveries beginning at 10 a.m.

For more information about the group, which provided Christmas gifts to 45 families last year, visit secretfamiliesjc.org or its Facebook page.

Mercer County Angel Tree provided more than 2,500 gifts to area children last year. Those interested in helping this year can do so by purchasing gifts, volunteering time to shop and wrap or making a donation.

Those who would like to purchase gifts can request tags by calling Betty Leininger at (419) 586-1352. To volunteer with shopping on Dec. 6 and wrapping on Dec. 7, call Diane Martens at (419) 586-3645. Monetary donations can be sent to Our Home, 117 W. Fayette St., Celina, Ohio 45822.

For more information about Mercer County Angel Tree, call (419) 586-4663.