HOLIDAY HELPERS in South Mississippi

operation christmas child

The deadline is today to drop off packed shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse. Drop-off locations are First Baptist, Bay St. Louis; Bay Vista Baptist, Biloxi; Bayou View Baptist, Gulfport; Midway Baptist and Wade Baptist, Moss Point; Belle Fountain Baptist, Ocean Springs; First Baptist Wiggins; The Beginnings Church, Poplarville; and Flat Top Unity Baptist and PineGrove Baptist in Picayune.

Michael Memorial Baptist, Gulfport, is the main and final drop-off point for all boxes.

Details: SamaritansPurse.org.

operation homefront

Military families may register online to receive a free holiday meal in December from Operation Homefront. The national nonprofit will distribute holiday meals to E-1 through E-6 military families and to the families of post-9/11 wounded, ill or injured of all ranks in South Mississippi on Dec. 9 through its annual Holiday Meals for Military program.

Families must register beforehand at https://events.operationhomefront.net/Member/Login.

About 150 meal kits will be distributed. Each kit will include all the grocery items necessary for a full holiday meal.

For more on how to volunteer or donate, check out HolidayMealsForMilitary.org.

TOY DRIVES

31st annual ASGARD Toy Run and Charity Motorcycle Ride: Nov. 29. Riders will roll out from Kapp's Hideaway in Kiln at 10 a.m., from the Gulfport Dragway at 11 a.m., from the Chevron Station on Mississippi 57 in Gautier at 11 a.m. and from the Home Depot on Cedar Lake Road in Biloxi at noon. The groups will each ride to Knights of Columbus, Water Street, Biloxi. To participate, riders must contribute one new toy and/or a clothing item or donate $10. After collecting and delivering the donations, the Harley Shop on Cedar Lake Road in Biloxi will host an after party at 2 p.m. with food, drinks and live entertainment. Details: 392-8281.

R.O.C.K. (Resilience of Coastal Kids) Foundation: Donations are being accepted for foster children in Harrison and Hancock counties. Unwrapped toys may be dropped off at any branch of Keesler Federal Credit Union and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, 842 Commerce St., Gulfport. Details: 861-0007.

The Gift of Giving: Donations of unwrapped, packaged toys will be accepted until 5 p.m. Dec. 14 for the drive, sponsored by the Ocean Springs Police Department and Ocean Springs Mayor's Youth Council. Drop-off locations: Big Lots, 2648 Bienville Blvd., Walmart, 3911 Bienville Blvd.; Ocean Springs High School, 6701 Old Spanish Trail; Ocean Springs Police Department, 3810 Bienville Blvd.; and Ocean Springs City Hall, 1018 Porter Ave. To make a check donation, make checks out to The Gift of Giving and bring to City Hall or Hancock Bank. Details: 875-2211 or 875-6722.

Ashley Furniture HomeStore holiday toy drive: The drive will benefit the local Boys and Girls Club. Drop off new toys at Ashley Furniture HomeStore, 3971 Promenade Parkway, D'Iberville, through Nov. 30. On Dec. 1, the collection box will be delivered to the Boys and Girls Club, along with a $1,000 donation from the store.

BE A SANTA TO A SENIOR

Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas trees feature ornaments with seniors' first names and their gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments from the trees, buy the items listed and return them unwrapped (and with the ornament attached) to the store. The deadline is Dec. 7.

Sponsored by the Home Instead Senior Care office serving The Mississippi Gulf Coast including Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties, the program is made possible by support of area nonprofit organizations, retailers, volunteers and members of the community.

Program partners Saad Healthcare, Amedisys Home Health of Biloxi, Deaconess Homecare of Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula, Mississippi Homecare, the Area Agency on Aging and the Jackson County Civic Action Committee also help with the gift collection and distribution.

Be A Santa To a Senior trees are at CVS Pharmacy locations: 12024 Lamey Bridge Road, D'Iberville; 1422 E. Pass Road and 11022 U.S. 49, Gulfport; 2190 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs; and 3657 Market St., Pascagoula.

Details: 818-6110.

BELL RINGERS NEEDED

The Salvation Army's 2015 Red Kettle Campaign runs through Christmas Eve and volunteers are being sought to staff the kettle and ring bells across South Mississippi. Hours are generally 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. but are flexible.

To participate, call 207-2303 or email zach_rhodes@uss.salvationarmy.org.

BLANKET DRIVE

Dancel Multimedia is collecting new or clean, gently used blankets for the homeless, through Dec. 10. The blankets will be distributed through a local nonprofit agency. Drop off blankets at 10265 Rodriguez St., D'Iberville.

To add to this list, send information to mynews@sunherald.com

This story was originally published November 23, 2015 at 5:31 AM with the headline "HOLIDAY HELPERS in South Mississippi ."