Posted on November 15, 2018 at 1:30 PM by Erica Stubbs
It seems this time of year has greater needs than we have days to give to service organizations and volunteer efforts. If this sounds familiar, you may want to take a look at this list of businesses and efforts that could use your time, your talent, or your resources, and not just at the holiday season, but year-round.
Consider volunteering
Two places that may not quickly come to mind is the Corsicana Public Library and the Corsicana Visitor Center. The Library has many ways to get involved. You can assist with computers, help out with large programs for children, shelve books, help set up for crafts and décor, join the FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, work in The Next Chapter Bookstore, or provide financial resources for an event.
Just as often as travelers stop into the Visitor Center for maps, brochures and directions, they ask questions about history. The Center needs volunteers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people, have great interpersonal skills and enjoy sharing their knowledge of Corsicana’s history with visitors from around the world.
Helping students
A personal favorite of mine, the Corsicana Education Foundation’s efforts to raise funds give back to the students and staff at Corsicana ISD through innovative teaching grants, student and staff incentives and recognition programs. No amount is too small. And through VOICE, Inc., students learn about health and wellness, drug prevention, have a safe place to spend some summer days and can apply for college scholarship funds, among other vital programs available through the organization. YE, Corsicana High School’s Youth Entrepreneur program, is developing tomorrow’s business leaders. Local business owners can invest in this program with their time and talent, and will reap the benefits years to come with our future workforce.
Donating food, clothing and more
If you are an empty nester who misses the days when the whole family would gather around for the holidays, Mosaic might be the volunteer effort you are looking for. Mosaic is a national faith-based organization serving people with intellectual disabilities. Many of the people they serve attend their Day Center and return home, but some reside in group homes here. For those folks, Mosaic provides a family atmosphere including holiday meals. From an Easter meal for four to a Thanksgiving dinner for forty, Mosaic is humbly grateful for anything you can provide, and they will make arrangements to pick up your cooked meal. The Martin Luther King Jr. Center is holding a holiday bake sale on Wednesday, November 21 to raise money for their scholarship fund. The timing is just right to bake an extra dessert to donate or stop by and purchase an item to go with your Mosaic meal donation.
While Mosaic’s clients receive some financial assistance, it’s never enough to take care of their needs. Some things people forget about is high cost of personal hygiene items, underwear and socks we don’t think twice about. The next time you are shopping, buy a few extra items to donate to Mosaic.
Compassion Corsicana is a ministry serving all of Navarro County with Family Services, a Life Recovery Center, House of Refuge Center and of course, the Navarro County Food Pantry. Their new resale store in Downtown generates funds from donated items to support their programs. Please consider donating used clothing, furniture, housewares and home electronics to their store, as well as volunteering. Volunteers provide teaching and mentorship, sales floor merchandising, meal preparation and serving, and transportation. Your organization may volunteer as a group for a specific time period, and you can donate on their website for a one-time donation or a recurring donation.
A little from each of us makes a difference
We’ll soon hear the bell ringers at store entrances. Please consider donating on the way in, and on the way out, dropping your change into the red bucket. The Salvation Army of Corsicana does many great things for our community that are easy to overlook. Join Friends of the Army and change lives every month, or consider a one-time donation this holiday season--$2.37 will feed one person a hot meal.
Support local businesses
Think twice before leaving town with your Christmas gift list. Business owners invest heavily in our city and they depend on all of us to support them. In doing so, we are also investing in our city, because for every $100 spent locally, $45 is spent again here, compared to only $14 reinvested when spent in a big box store. Instead of shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, make plans to shop on Saturday, November 24 during Small Business Saturday. More than 40 businesses are planning special events, discounts and activities to encourage us to shop small.
Corsicana Public Library – 903-654-4810
Corsicana Visitor Center – 903-654-4840
Mosaic Corsicana – 903-874-3364
Martin Luther King Jr. Center – 903-467-7156
VOICE, Inc. – 903-872-0180
Corsicana Independent School District – 903-874-7411
Compassion Corsicana – 903-874-4971
The Salvation Army of Corsicana – 903-874-7131