Nonprofit launches Christmas giving project

Valley Churches United Missions is calling for contributions to its 31st annual Valley Christmas Project, which helped 8,846 people in the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley in 2011. 
The Valley Christmas Project accepts donations from the community and provides food, basic necessities and gifts to needy families, senior citizens, disabled residents and homeless people.
This year, Valley Churches United Missions needs donations such as cash, food, food vouchers, new toys, cookies, gifts for seniors, Christmas trees, gift wrap, poinsettia plants, new blankets, socks, jackets, gifts for teenagers, movie passes and gift cards. 
“Our needs are high, and donations are down,” said Linda Lovelace, operations director of Valley Churches United. “Hunger never takes a holiday.”
Donations of cash, food and gifts for the 2011 Valley Christmas Project totaled $647,861. Volunteers devoted 9,618 hours to the cause, and 5,396 students helped with food drives.
This year, the Valley Christmas Project needs volunteers to sort food, fill bags, wrap gifts, pick up and deliver items and help with clerical work and distribution. 
Other ways to help are by baking cookies, decorating boxes for local seniors and making Christmas cards.
Valley Churches United Missions runs with a staff that is 98 percent volunteers and uses no government funding.
To help fuel the Christmas project, a Holiday Boutique and Santa’s Workshop will be open through noon Christmas Eve. Donations can be delivered to Valley Churches United Missions’ headquarters, 9400 Highway 9, in Ben Lomond, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends.
Cash donations can be sent to Valley Churches United Missions, P.O. Box 367, Ben Lomond, CA 95005. 
Other collection spots are Ben Lomond Gas Station, 9500 Highway 9, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; and Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce, 360 Kings Village Road, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For information: 336-8258.
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