Make a Child Smile is entering another season of providing Christmas gifts for less-fortunate children, and donations are needed.
Tracy Stocks, president of Make a Child Smile, said, "What we're trying to do is give kids the basic necessities and simple pleasures of life." Each box contains hygiene products, school supplies, socks, hats, gloves, a blanket and toys, she said.
The charity is holding a blanket drive from now until Monday, Nov. 19. Blankets may be dropped off at the Log Cabin Democrat, Stocks Mortgage, Popeye's Chicken, ERA Henley Real Estate, Trent Management, Shoe Carnival or any Dollar General store.
"With a blanket, you provide warmth and comfort," Stocks said. "It's really sad Last year we had a seven-year-old girl ask for a blanket. Kids that age ought to ask for Barbies, dolls, stuffed animals that kind of stuff."
She said MACS will accept any type of blankets, but throw blankets are the best size to fit into the boxes being given to the children.
A poker tournament fundraiser will be Friday at the Knights of Columbus. Buy in is $65, and dinner is included in the price. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and play begins at 6:30 p.m. Last year's poker tournament raised about $3,500. Stocks said the previous year's tournament raised more.
"I feel real positive about the poker tournament. I feel like this one's going to be real good," she said.
Also, Dollar General is holding a toy and clothing drive at its stores from now until Dec. 16 in hopes of collecting $20,000 worth of items for Make a Child Smile, Stocks said. Shoe Carnival will also hold a shoe drive during the month of November for the charity.
On Nov. 5, Make a Child Smile will hold an open house and fundraiser at its storage and work facility at the former location of Hallmark in the Conway Towne Centre. The public is invited. Raffle tickets will be sold for a $100 gift certificate to a store of the winner's choice. Volunteer Angela Parks said there will be a speaker who will discuss the positive impact MACS makes. She said the group hopes for a large turnout of people interested in volunteering or who want to donate and are curious to see where their money goes.
Last year MACS helped more than 400 children and hopes to help more than 500 this year, Stocks said.
Donations may be mailed to Make a Child Smile, P.O. Box 2363, Conway, AR 72033; or contact Stocks at 730-3336, 932-0555, or tstocks@conwaycorp.net.
(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
