Help less fortunate in Sumter have a joyful holiday season through donations

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Lend someone a helping hand this holiday season. The following are just a few of the needs in our community. If your nonprofit organization would like to be included on this list, email needs to pressrelease@theitem.com.

Pursuit to End Hunger

The Pursuit to End Hunger, sponsored by Sumter Police Department, is accepting donations of non-perishable items from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Sumter Police Department, 335 N. Lafayette Drive. All donations will be delivered to local food banks. Anyone who would like to donate but cannot make a delivery Thursday can call Sumter Police Department at (803) 436-2700 to learn how to participate.

Sumter United Ministries

Sumter United Ministries is collecting frozen turkeys through Nov. 19 for its Giving Thanks dinner boxes program to help those in need of a warm holiday dinner. The emergency services nonprofit will be distributing them on Nov. 20.

Turkeys can be dropped off at SUM's main office, 36 Artillery Drive, or at Bynum Insurance, 1170 Wilson Hall Road.

For more information, visit www.sumterunitedministries.org or call (803) 775-0757.

John K. Crosswell Home for Children

Crosswell Home for Children provides a home to children who are unable to live with their families for various reasons. Children live in cottages based on their age and gender and are supervised at all times by cottage parents.

Cottage A (Visitation Center) - 50-inch Smart TV, two sets of Corelle dishes (16-piece set), two sets of drinking glasses, set of heavy-duty pots and pans, heavy-duty baking pans, dish towels/pot holders, Blu-ray/DVD player, DVDs (G, PG and PG-13 movies), four twin-size blankets, two queen-size blankets and two rocking chairs for porch

Cottage B (infant to 9-year-old girls and boys) - Twin boy and/or girl comforter sets and sheets, two queen comforter sets, twin bed skirts (white, pink or navy), cushioned glider rocker, shower curtains, bedroom decorations, bedside lamps, night lights, bean bag chairs and plastic children's dishware

Cottage C (10- to 18-year-old boys) - Blu-ray DVD player, eight place mats, three sets of Corelle dishes (16-piece set), twin boy comforter sets and sheets, twin bed skirts (navy, khaki or white), two queen-size comforter sets and sheets, sports wall d cor (posters, poster frames, etc.), two large (8x10) area rugs, bedside lamps, action/adventure DVDs, board games, 5-gallon Igloo beverage cooler, mini refrigerator, portable ping-pong table set and an RCA Theater Projector

Cottage D (10- to 18-year-old girls) - Twin girl comforter sets and sheets, twin bed skirts, two queen comforter sets, bedside lamps, decorative hanging picture wall displays, CD player with radio, DVDs, dance games for Wii, DVDs, set of heavy-duty pots and pans, heavy-duty baking pans, set of measuring cups/teaspoons, three sets of Corelle dishes (16-piece set), air fryer and two rocking chairs for porch

Campus general needs - Duffel bags, batteries (AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt), small paper birthday plates, candles, plastic mattress covers, sturdy plastic hampers, teen birthday gifts (Bluetooth speakers, headphones,video games, wallets, jewelry, bath and body kits, nail kits, sports balls), towels and washcloths, large umbrellas, new packs of underwear and socks (adult sizes only), new pajamas (youth and adult sizes), non-slip kitchen and bathroom mats, children's throw blankets, four commercial vacuum cleaners and four portable DVD players

Nursing/clinical needs - Welch Allyn Sure Temp Plus 690 Thermometer with probe covers, pediatric blood pressure cuff, adult blood pressure cuff, latex-free/powder-free exam gloves (small and medium), vision screen eye charts (10 foot), Deluxe Pulse Oximeter, Nebulizer, CPR mannequins (adult and infant), Instant Cool Gel or Warm Packs, educational material for parents/staff on various health topics, dental hygiene teaching aids, hand sanitizer wall dispenser, pediatric stickers, soft blanket for exam cot and a large trash can with lid

Gift cards - Activity gift cards/passes/financial sponsorship for activities for the children to do during Christmas break: Santa Train, Trolley Lights Tour, movie passes, roller skating, bowling, McDonald's, Chick-Fil-A, Chuck E. Cheese, Monkey Joe's, Riverbanks Zoo Christmas Lights, EdVenture Kids Museum, etc., clothing and toy purchasing gift cards such as Walmart, JCPenney, Kmart, TJ Maxx, Belk, Amazon, etc.

These items do not need to be wrapped.

Gifts can be dropped off at the administrative building front desk, 11 Crosswell Drive, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, please call (803) 778-6441 or email sallred@crosswellhome.org.

Due to storage and staff constraints, the home cannot accept unsolicited donations of used clothing, toys, etc. Crosswell appreciates the community's support and understanding in helping to send the message that its children deserve the best.