The Athens County Food Pantry is “overflowing” with many donations from this holiday season.
Some Athens residents may have been trying to get on Santa’s good list this past holiday season by helping those less fortunate.
During the season surrounding the winter holidays of Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year's Day, it is a traditionally popular time for people to perform charitable acts, and people in Athens were doing just that.
Places of worship in the area have held events and activities for members of their congregations to give back to those near and far.
Bill Hixson, the pastor of Athens Bible Church, explained some activities members of his church have partaken in. People have gone as a church to local nursing homes to help out and sing Christmas carols to the elderly. The church has also been part of a program sending packages with toys, food and sundries to children abroad in need of help, Hixson said.
Churches weren't the only do-gooders; local businesses were also charitable this holiday season.
A local business that gave this holiday season was the Little Professor Book Center, 65 S. Court St.
For about 10 or 12 years the store has been accepting food donations for the Athens County Food Pantry, and in return the patron fills out a ticket with a chance of winning a prize. Prizes have included paintings donated from local artists and donated children’s books, Curt Holsapple, the co-owner, said.
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The Little Professor started the food drive after hearing from a loyal customer who volunteered at the pantry, Holsapple said.
“There was a need for it,” he added.
The shelves at the Athens County Food Pantry have found an increase of food since the beginning of December and are currently “overflowing,” Katharin Foster, a board member and volunteer at the pantry, said.
The donations this time of year are “great,” Foster said. She encourages people to give, as well as volunteer, not just during the holiday season, but all year long.
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