As the Christmas season gets into full swing, Clarkston News staffers are putting together holiday-related stories, talking to local organizations and hearing the same message over and over and over again: more families are feeling pinched this year.
We want to help, and we’re hoping you do, too.
The Clarkston News is collecting nonperishable food items, paper products and toiletries, which we will distribute among several local organizations who work hard to help others.
If you like the idea of making Christmas a little brighter for Clarkston-area families, please bring your donations to the Clarkston News office.
Bring the kids, and as our ‘thank you? we’ll snap a photo, which will appear in a January edition of our paper.
Across the Clarkston area’like the rest of Michigan’folks have been laid off or just plain let go from their jobs. A record number of homes are in foreclosure, shut-off notices are arriving from the utility companies, bill collectors are calling, and parents are warning their children that Santa might be delivering a lighter load this year.
With food as a priority, organizations like Neighbor for Neighbor in Springfield Township are getting lots of new families asking for food every week.
But even free food isn’t always as easy as it sounds.
‘People are having a hard time getting here because they don’t have the money to put gas in their cars,? said Peg Hill, a Neighbor for Neighbor volunteer. ‘You know it’s getting pretty bad when people can’t even afford to go pick up a bag of free groceries.?
The organization is collecting food, cash donations and new, unused Christmas gifts for local men, women and children.
While all donations are appreciated and welcome, she said, Neighbor for Neighbor is particularly low on canned fruit and vegetables. Teen-appropriate gifts, such as gift cards to music and clothing stores are also in short supply.
The Davisburg Rotary is also preparing for the holidays with its 40th annual Christmas Basket Program.
The assembly and distribution of baskets is the organization’s largest’and some would say most important’event of the year.
In 2005, the Rotary delivered 57 baskets. Last year the number nearly doubled to number shot 107.
Although total numbers aren’t yet available for 2007, Rotarians are still hoping for donations of food and household goods to help fill the baskets for needy families.
Items like shampoo, soap, hygiene products, and toothpaste are always appreciated by families.
‘Anything they can’t buy with food stamps,? said Rotarian Collin Walls, who is also longtime Springfield Township supervisor.
If you’d like to help, please drop off donations at The Clarkston News, 5 S. Main, in downtown Clarkston, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mon-Fri.

Or, if you’d prefer…
Drop off donations directly with one of the following organizations:
‘Davisburg Rotary
What’s needed: Donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries, paper products and cash.
Where to take donations: Drop off donations at the following Davisburg locations: Walls Realty 627 Broadway; or the Springfield Township Civic Center, 12000 Davisburg Road. Special arrangements can be made for pick-up of large donations and perishables. The Rotary will assemble food baskets Fri., Dec 14, and deliver them to residents Sat. Dec. 15.
For more information: Call Basket Program chairperson Diana Walls at 248-634-4453.
‘Neighbor for Neighbor
What’s needed: Personal care items and non perishable food (they’re very low on canned fruit and veggies). The organization is also collecting new gifts for men, women and children’especially teen appropriate items like gift cards. Gas cards are also encouraged. Volunteers to pick up donations and unload trucks are needed, as well.
Where to take donations: Donations can be dropped off Monday from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hart Community Center, 495 Broadway in Davisburg.
For more information: Call 248-634-0900.
‘Lighthouse (North) of Oakland County
What’s needed: Nonperishable foods, especially peanut butter, jelly, tuna, boxed potatoes, rice, and spaghetti sauce.
Also baby items, paper products, household supplies, toiletries.
For more information: Call 248-620-6116