By Tia Lyons
Staff Writer
Meet Me at the Court and the Bailey Family are closing out a busy year of volunteerism and giving with more of the same.
The groups are joining together to plan year-end events that are aimed at helping local families have a joyous holiday season.
Submissions are being sought for the fourth annual Sharion Bailey Whitlock Angel Tree, which provides support to area families and individuals in need.
Veronica Bailey, one of the organizers of the program, said the Angel Tree distributes food, clothes and toys and provides assistance with utility bills.
She said the 2016 Angel Tree helped 109 children from dozens of families in the area.
Bailey said people may submit information for area families and individuals to receive help and include names, a telephone number, address, ages, clothing sizes (shirts, pants and shoes).
She said gender should also be specified.
“They need to let us know who it is they want us to help and what the need is,” Bailey said.
The deadline to submit information is 1 p.m. on Dec. 8.
To submit names for the Angel Tree, call Bailey at 870-310-0391, Theodore Bailey at 870-814-6396, James Curley at 870-310-0745, Brenda Stanley at 870-881-5191, Peggy Johnson at 870-677-9748 or Candace Carter at 870-875-1044.
Bailey said the Angel Tree program will lead up to Christmas on the Court, which is set for 2 p.m. on Dec. 16 on the basketball court in the area of Lester and Columbia behind Arby’s restaurant.
The event is free and open to the public.
The day will include the decoration of the Angel Tree, which will be donated to a local family after it is decorated, Bailey said.
Attendees will be able to take free photographs with Santa and listen to Christmas Carols sung by the Meet Me at the Court Community Choir.
Bailey said Meet Me at the Court will also perform its monthly youth mission project by collecting and distributing canned goods to low-income families.
Rounding out the day will be the year-end closing appreciation event and spaghetti supper, marking the first time the annual appreciation event will be incorporated into the Christmas program.
“We decided to hold them together this year, where we can fellowship and eat together, and everybody is welcome to come out and fellowship with us,” Bailey said.
Tia Lyons can be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.