To help make the holidays a little brighter, a gift of $150 provides a local family from Aunt Susie's Cancer Wellness Center with a grocery card or a gift card for a prepared holiday meal from a local restaurant, as well as a few simple holiday family gifts.
Aunt Susie’s Cancer Wellness Center was created to help the whole family get through a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Services include transportation to and from doctor visits, salon services, support groups, dignity tops and prostheses, food assistance, a companion program and house cleaning.
Website: www.auntsusies.org
Give the gift of independence this holiday season. A gift of $175 provides a veterinarian well-check visit, immunizations and a service animal cape for a rescued dog in training to be a service animal. Trained Canines Helping Independent People service dogs then help physically disabled people live more fulfilling, self-sufficient lives.
Canines Helping Independent People rescues, trains and places service dogs with adults and veterans who have disabilities. The organization also places dogs in assisted living facilities to help with resident well-being and provides educational programs to school children, civic groups, clubs, organizations and government agencies.
Website: www.chipprogram.org
Many JRC Adult Day Center members do not have family and friends they see around the holidays. A gift of $100 provides them with a holiday care package, including a blanket, goodies, a craft, book or other activity and a sweatshirt. This gesture ensures JRC members feel loved and cared for during the holiday season.
JRC Adult Day Center allows adults with physical or cognitive disabilities to remain in their community independently for as long as possible. Members socialize, exercise, attend field trips and increase their overall quality of life through programs that offer temporary relief to caregivers— allowing them to work or run errands while knowing their relative is safe.
Website: www.jrccares.org
A gift of $200 helps area rescues get the medical care they need this holiday season. This covers the costs of a spay or neuter, essential medical care, heartworm tests, flea prevention, vaccinations and deworming for a rescued animal.
Pawsitive Hope takes in shelter and owner-surrendered animals with medical issues and rehabilitates, vaccinates, microchips, spays or neuters and places these special needs animals up for adoption. The team also provides medical care at other animal rescues and financial assistance to help low-income families with spay or neuter costs.
Website: www.pawsitivehope.org
A gift of $100 this holiday season engraves a brick with the name of your military or first responder loved one that will be placed around the flagpole at the entrance of the Pegasus Farm Military and First Responders Center. Proceeds support the equestrian programs for veterans, active military personnel and first responders.
Pegasus Farm's Military and First Responders Center is a place for connection of support through comprehensive, community-based programming to meet the needs of veterans, active-duty military, first responders and their families. Services include equestrian activities, exercise programs, individual counseling services, all at no cost to participants.
Website: www.pegasusfarm.org
A gift of $175 covers the costs for one economically disadvantaged Stark County seventh or eighth-grade student to travel and participate in the Power of the Pen State Tournament. Fifteen total gifts would sponsor an entire Stark County team of students in need for the 2023-2024 tournament season, which begins in January.
Power of the Pen empowers seventh and eighth-grade students to find and develop their unique creative voice by participating in writing tournaments. Each team prepares for competition by studying the most compelling student writing, engaging in conversations about the writer’s craft and the impact of the stories written by their peers.
Website: www.powerofthepen.org
A gift of $150 helps a Stark County middle schooler assess community needs and put their actionable ideas into motion through TomTod Idea's “What If You Could” program. Students in the program work with mentors to refine their ideas, build a prototype and pitch their plans to community leaders.
TomTod Ideas helps thousands of Stark County middle schoolers discover and love their community while finding ways to help it thrive. The programming uses the latest research about early adolescent development, allowing students to explore idea creation through a community-focused, developmentally appropriate lens.
Website: www.tomtodideas.org
