Registration for Christmas Outreach is open for the 2022 yearly event
Courtesy photo from Christmas Outreach's Facebook from event in Dec. 2021
Although Christmas may seem far away, executive members of Christmas Outreach have been planning for the event since August.
Christmas Outreach is a non-profit organization that has been helping families in Isabella county since 1980, and has helped thousands of individuals in need each year, social media Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Ohms said.
Christmas Outreach is available for anyone living in Isabella county. Registration is open from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 and Nov. 7 to Nov. 11 during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register, call (989) 773-4204, it is required in order to attend the event.
Items available include:
- coats
- hats
- gloves
- snow pants
- children's books
- Christmas decorations
- Household items such as toilet paper, paper towels, and laundry soap.
The event will take place Dec. 12, Dec. 13, and Dec. 14 -- times vary by appointment which is made during registration. This is the third year it is happening at Campus Life. The event was previously held at Finch Field House Ohms said.
Ohms has been working with Christmas Outreach for the past 10 years volunteering, and this is her third year serving on the executive board. Ohms runs the program's Facebook page and reaches out to organizations in the community to spread awareness of this event.
Every year Christmas Outreach relies on volunteers to help with sorting, setting up, escorting guests while shopping during the event, and tearing down. A signup genius link will be posted on Christmas Outreach’s Facebook page in early November or can sign up by contacting Charla Miller the volunteer coordinator at mille3c@cmich.edu.
Christmas Outreach partners with local businesses for donations, as well as community member donations. Donations can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 9 and Dec. 10 and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 11 at Campus Life on 1200 W High St. Questions about donations can be asked on Christmas Outreach's Facebook page.
Winter gear sizes from XS to 5X are greatly appreciated and so are Christmas trees, Ohms said. Books can also be donated but only for ages kindergarten through high school. Toys are not acceptable donations.
"Every year the hope is to get more donations than the year before just so nothing runs out," Ohms said. "Whatever is left over at the end is stored and put out for the next year's event."
During the event in 2021, 1,342 families were served from 396 households. With the current state of the economy, Christmas Outreach is expecting an even higher number this year Ohms said.
“This event helps show children at a young age what it means for neighbors to support neighbors," Ohms said.
