Tuscarawas County, Ohio - More than 60 local schools, churches, businesses, clubs and organizations are banding together to share the joy of the holidays through the annual Share-A-Christmas campaign.  

Administered by the Tuscarawas County Council for Church & Community, also known as T4C, the annual Share-A-Christmas campaign relies on the time and talents of many dedicated volunteers and the generosity of the local community to provide holiday assistance to area individuals and families in need. 

Food donations will be collected at Tuscora Park Pavilion and at the Uhrichsville Fire Department on December 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. The Dennison Fire Department will also be accepting food donations daily from November 23rd through December 13th. All food donors are asked to check expiration dates as expired food cannot be distributed.

Starlight Enterprises is collecting new socks, underwear, mittens and hats for program recipients. Items can be dropped off at their New Philadelphia location at 246 East High Ave. in New Philadelphia through December 10th.

Meanwhile, WJER Radio will be collecting new and slightly-used toys and bicycles on Wednesday, December 5th, with help from Indian Valley FFA students. The collection will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the radio station’s parking lot at 646 Boulevard St. in Dover.

Toys will also be accepted during normal business hours from December 3rd through 10th at Lahm Motor Co. at 119 N. Broadway in Sugarcreek and at the former JC Penny’s location at New Towne Mall on December 10th from 9 to noon. Giving Trees will be set up at both the mall and New Philadelphia Buehler’s. 

T4C Executive Director Louise Worsham says there is also a need for wrapping paper to pass out during toy distribution. She says donors will sometimes include a roll of wrapping paper or a gift bag when they place their unwrapped toy donations under one of the Giving Trees, which is always a big help.

“The gift wrap is something that we don’t do a real big emphasis on, so sometimes that’s probably something that we do run out of,” she says.

For the first time this year, T4C will also be collecting unopened 4-roll packs of toilet paper to distribute to Share-A-Christmas participants. Worsham says the organization doesn’t typically distribute paper products but felt that toilet paper was an important necessity.  
 
Monetary donations are also welcomed and will be used to purchase clothing vouchers for participating families. Monetary donations can be mailed to Share-A-Christmas at 1458 Fifth Street NW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.