Cindy DiFazio - Staff Writer

Donetta and Tim Barrett of the Christian International Family Worship Center, on Cavehill Road in Versailles, are enthusiastic about helping out families in need this Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s not that helping out during the holiday season is new to their organization. It’s just that this year CIFWC’s role has changed along with changes made at Family Connections, the community service resource in charge of taking applications for holiday assistance.

In the past, Family Connections has participated in the Angel Tree program out of Cincinnati. This year, however, Family Connections is working with Bill Warren, Center Township Trustee and organizations like CIFWC. They are collecting non-perishable foods, clothing, coats and other outer wear such as hats and gloves, toys and household items. These can be dropped off at:
* Building 14 of the Ripley County Fairgrounds in Osgood on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. or 4-6:00 p.m. (call Bill Warren at 812-756-2560 for more info);
* Ripley County Highway Department, weekdays from 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; or,
* CIFWC Church, Cavehill Road, Versailles, drive-thru by the church building (call 689-5503 for more info).

Already, CIFWC has taken a 50-gallon barrel full of coats to the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry in Osgood. They have another barrel half-full waiting to be stuffed to over-flowing.

Bill Warren, the Center Township Trustee, said that the need this year is greater than ever. He stressed that donations are desperately needed, adding, “We have a huge amount of clothes, but we’re out of sweaters and coats.”

Warren went on to say that 23 new families signed up at the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry in Osgood for food on Monday, November 20. He said that this is a record number of new families in one day. Warren stated that money donations go further in providing food as that allows the group to buy in bulk, but they will take whatever donors can provide, even if it’s just one canned good.

This year CIFWC donated more than 40 Thanksgiving meals to the Healthy Families program at Family Connections, up from 20 in the past. Donetta Barrett explained that rather than providing just enough food for a holiday meal, they include breakfast foods and other add-ons so that families are able to eat for a week. Barrett commented, “Add noodles to the left-over turkey and you have soup.”
April McLaughlin, Family Care Coordinator at Family Connections, said that the deadline for families to apply for assistance is December 14. In case you missed the list of places to pick up applications here it is again:
* Sunman IGA
* Batesville Kroger
* Napoleon State Bank in Napoleon, Osgood and Holton
* Family Connections at 202 N. Gaslight Drive in Versailles
* Versailles Super-Valu
* Milan or Osgood JayC Food Store
* Milan Library

Pick-up locations are not drop-off locations. Families are to send or drop-off applications to the address listed on the bottom of the application form.

All involved know that it is indeed better to give than to receive. Warren enthused, “We just want to put a toy in the hands of every kid,” and Barrett said, “You just can’t help but get excited about it.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO Pastor Tim Barrett and others help to load the van full of boxes of groceries for area families. The CI Family Worship Center were able to help 40 families have a great Thanksgiving meal this year. They are also involved in helping with a Christmas program to make sure every child has a merry Christmas season.