Giving gifts to charitable organizations and families in need at Christmas is a tradition many people commit to every year. If you are a tried-and-true holiday benefactor, or if you are new to this idea, there are several ways to help in Hopkinsville and Christian County.
Hoptown Chronicle has compiled a list of organizations that are seeking help. And we’ve suggested a few organizations that have been in the news this year that would benefit from your monetary donations for end-of-year giving.
- DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT: Until Dec. 31, every dollar you give to support nonprofit journalism for Hopkinsville & Christian County will be matched
Season of Giving
Planters Bank has a new way to support nonprofits with its Season of Giving campaign. This year, rather than selling holiday goods and donating proceeds and additional money to organizations, the bank is asking community members to donate needed items to nonprofits selected for 2022. The bank will then make a monetary donation equal to the value of the donated items.
The Hopkinsville branches of Planters are collecting for the following nonprofits:
Aaron McNeil House
The Aaron McNeil House operates a food pantry and assists Hopkinsville and Christian County families with basic needs during times of crisis. Donations of non-perishable food can be made at the bank’s Indian Hills branch on Canton Street.
Joy Closet
Joy Closet provides resources to foster children and families in times of transition. Donations of new boy pull-ups, underwear, car seats and crib mattresses can be made at the bank’s main branch at South Main and 14th streets.
Alpha Pregnancy Care Center
Alpha Pregnancy Care Center is a Christian faith-based organization that provides pregnancy testing, ultrasounds and support to women facing unplanned pregnancies. Donations of diapers, wipes, diaper bags, car seats, formula (regular and hypoallergenic), strollers, pack ’n plays, prenatal vitamins, bath towels, blankets and crib sheets can made at the bank’s Fort Campbell Boulevard branch.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army of Hopkinsville’s Angel Tree provides holiday gifts for local children in need. Donors help by selecting an angel tag from a Christmas tree at Walmart in Hopkinsville or Oak Grove and purchasing items based on that child’s age and needs.
The organization approved 700 angels for adoption this year — about 150 more than last year.
In a Facebook post over the weekend, The Salvation Army of Hopkinsville said it still had hundreds of angels available for adoption. “Please consider adopting from The Salvation Army angel tree while you are out and about … You won’t regret giving in this way, this Christmas!” the post states.
Donors may also give online by going through the Walmart Registry for Good. Here’s the link that sends online purchases to the Hopkinsville Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army also needs volunteers to be bell-ringers at red kettle collection sites around town. Call the office at 270-885-9633 to sign up. Individuals, families and organizations can help.
Hopkinsville Fire Department
The Christmas for Kids campaign is an annual effort by the Hopkinsville Fire Department. Local families help by contributing to the effort to provide toys and gifts for others in need.
You can contact Assistant Chief Chad Sivills at 270-890-1450 for details about how to assist. The deadline to deliver items to HFD is Dec. 16.
“We’re almost at our goal, but we need your help to finish strong. Your commitment will ensure 13 local children wake up Christmas morning to gifts under the tree. Businesses are strongly encouraged to participate. Email or call today!” the department wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.
More groups doing good work
Here are a few organizations that help in a variety of ways year-round in the community. Your contribution could help them continue the work they do in 2023.
Christian County Literacy Council
The Christian County Literacy Council promotes reading and learning for children and adults in the community. Notable in 2022 were the council’s bell hooks Memorial Writing Contest and its spelling bee. Online donations are accepted here. The mailing address is CCLC, P.O. Box 4048, Hopkinsville, KY 42241.
Jeffers Bend
The Jeffers Bend Environmental Center, hosts a number of popular events every year, including the Hummingbird Festival, Take Kids Fishing, Torchlight Tales and Christmas at the Bend. Donations can be mailed to Jeffers Bend, 1170 Metcalfe Lane, Hopkinsville, KY 42240.
Dinner Church
In the three years since it was established, the Breaking Bread Dinner Church has grown to serve 400 or more boxed dinners every Thursday afternoon at Aaron McNeil House. It runs entirely on local donations of food, labor and cash. Donations can be mailed to St. John United Methodist Church, 2808 S. Virginia St., Hopkinsville, KY 42240. (Write “Dinner Church” in the check memo line.)
Hoptown Chronicle
As a nonprofit newsroom, Hoptown Chronicle provides public service journalism that helps residents make informed decisions, serves the community’s wellbeing and fosters connections. This work is entirely community-funded and, through Dec. 31, donors can double their impact thanks to News Match — a grassroots effort to support nonprofit newsrooms like us. Donations can be made online or by mail at 612 S. Main St., Suite 203, Hopkinsville, KY 42240.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
