As the holiday season rounds the corner and temperatures continue to drop, local organizations are preparing to help those most in need.

In Columbus, Darnell Madison, founder of the I Am Mentoring program, said the organization is looking for donations to its third annual coat drive on Dec. 13. The goal this year, he said, is to give away about 500 coats to children and adults in need of a coat to stay warm.

“We give out to anyone who needs it,” Madison said. “So we don’t just collect coats for the youth. We also collect for the adults. And the mission is simple: a coat to a body. If you come in on the day that we’re giving out the coats and you say you need a coat, we’ll have them laid out.”

This year, Madison said he’s also partnered with local barbers at Gorilla Fadez to give out free haircuts to those who stop by the drive.

Donations of coats, hats, socks and gloves for the drive can be dropped off at the Columbus Outreach Center and 1514 Cafe, both located on Main Street, Currie’s Barbershop at 1301 Gardner Blvd. and United Faith Church at 1701 22nd St. N. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 12.

Toys and turkeys

Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Community Benefit Committee are partnering again this year to host the annual toy drive from Nov. 23 to Dec. 20, Lt. Rhonda Sanders told The Dispatch.

Sanders said there are currently two donation bins – one at the sheriff’s office at 527 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive S. and the other at Transformation by Karletta at 118 Gardner Blvd. – but she hopes to partner with at least six more local businesses before the drive starts.

“It’s very important,” Sanders said. “There are so many needs in Lowndes County, and we are just wanting to be able to touch a few families … and help them with their needs. … We’re not just in the business of taking folks to jail. We are in the business of giving people a better quality of life.”

Along with the drive, the sheriff’s office will be hosting a Christmas Party in partnership with Lowndes County Child Protective Services for local foster care families, foster children and other families as well. Toys from the drive will be given out at the party, and children will be able to select their own gift, Sanders said.

The drive will also include an opportunity for students from both county and city schools to shop with the sheriff, Sanders said. Counselors from the schools are invited to recommend students to go on a shopping trip with a local law enforcement officer.
Sanders said the goal is to help 500 local families this holiday season.

Both LCSO and Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office are organizing turkey giveaways for residents this year. Both offices are currently accepting frozen turkey donations.

OCSO will distribute the frozen turkeys to residents at 10 a.m. Nov. 22 at Cornerstone Park, according to a Facebook post made Tuesday. LCSO will distribute turkeys to residents with a Lowndes County ID at BankFirst Yards on the same day.

Cruisin’ for Tots

In Caledonia, Carl Ulmer is organizing the ninth annual Cruisin’ for Tots, which will benefit the Pack Nine Cub Scouts Toy Drive. The event is scheduled for 7 a.m. Nov. 29 in the parking lot of Sweet Peppers Deli.

Entry is free for motorists who donate a new kids toy or $10, and all proceeds will support the drive, Ulmer said.

Ulmer will wrap up the event at about 10:30 a.m. to head over to 2313 Hwy 45 N. to join the 2025 Pack 9 Toy Run, he said.

“We unload all the toys and everything, and the Cub Scouts come and take them out of the back of my van,” Ulmer said. “… They take them and put them inside the Boy Scout building, and then they organize and distribute the toys out.”

Ulmer said his goal is to bring about 200 toys and $500 in donations to the toy run.

Philesa DeSmidt, who has organized the Pack 9 drive for the last 11 years, said it is especially important this year for families impacted by the government shutdown.

“There are families struggling to keep a roof over their children’s heads and food in their mouths,” DeSmidt told The Dispatch. “We are encouraging anyone and everyone who is able to donate, please do so. Every toy counts no matter the size or the price.”