Project Santa readies for holidays

Staff Reports

The volunteers of the Project Santa Claus organization are getting ready for their 20th year of lending a hand to Douglas County children in need for the holidays. Last year, 811 children from 344 families were helped by Project Santa Claus and even more are expected to be in need of help this year.

Project Santa Claus begins with a used winter clothing drive for children and adults on Nov. 2 through Dec. 4. Clean clothes such as sweaters, jackets, coats, sweats, jeans, pants, boots, shoes and winter night wear in wearable condition for infants, children, teens and adults are needed.

Clothing collection boxes will be in Gardnerville at Carson Valley Medical Center, 1107 Highway 395; University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Office, 1329 Waterloo Lane; R & T Cleaners, 1389 Lampe Drive; Raley's camera department, 1363 Highway 395; and in Minden at M. Scott Properties, 1626 Highway 395 and World Gym at 885 Mahogany Drive.

Project Santa Claus includes children of Carson Valley Community Food Closet families who are approved by Douglas County and Washoe Tribal Social Service Departments, children of Family Support Council families who are approved by their case workers, children in the Court Appointed Special Advocate program of Douglas County approved by their caseworkers and with assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff's Department. Project Santa Claus is not affiliated with Toys for Tots.

The Carson Valley Kiwanis Club seeks good quality used bicycles to be cleaned and repaired by the young people at China Spring and Aurora Pines to be donated to Project Santa Claus. Bikes may be dropped off at the Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District office at 931 Mitch Drive in the Ranchos or at the Town of Gardnerville Maintenance Yard at 1369 Highway 395, Gardnerville. Information, Tom Peters, 782-6384.

Any contributions are tax deductible, as Project Santa is an IRS 501 (c)(3) organization, I.D. No. 88-0258742. Monetary donations may be mailed to Project Santa Claus, P. O. Box 3031, Gardnerville, NV, 89410. Information, Marilyn Malkmus, 782-4931.