Published Saturday, Sept. 30, 2000
MERCER COUNTY AREA
Groups organize for Make a Difference Day Oct. 28
The following organizations are planning activities for USA Weekend's Make a Difference Day on Oct. 28:- The Hermitage Newcomers Club and Once Again Consignment and Resale Boutique in Sharpsville have joined efforts for the second year in a row for "Operation Klean Kloset" to raise money for the Shenango Valley's Koats for Kids program. The club is asking for donations of fall and winter clothing in good condition to be sold at the boutique. Children's items and evening wear are also needed. Items can be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Once Again Boutique in Sharpsville Center Plaza on Shenango Street. All profits from the donated clothing will be donated to Koats for Kids.
For anyone wishing to make a cash donation, a box will be provided at Once Again Boutique.
- The Mercer Free Methodist Church will accept donations for the AW/ARE shelter from 10 to 11 a.m. Oct. 28 at stations at Walt's in Mercer Plaza and Oakes True Value at 125 N. Erie St. in Mercer. Those who wish to donate items before Make a Difference Day can do so at collection boxes placed at Mama and Papa Bair's Restaurant, Oakes True Value, Mercer Mercantile and Soda Shoppe, Pizza Joe's, Eckerd, Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce and Walt's. The items will be placed in gift-wrapped shoe boxes, donated by Big Kmart in Hermitage, and filled with necessities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, brushes, wash cloths and hand towels, as well as crayons, markers, tablets, storybooks and small stuffed animals.
Volunteers, prayer partners and well-wishers are invited to a prayer breakfast at 8 a.m. Oct. 28 at Mama and Papa Bair's Restaurant. Some of the volunteers will discuss their Make a Difference Day experience during the church's 10:45 a.m. worship service on Oct. 29.
The church's youth will sponsor an AW/ARE tree at Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce's Festival of Trees on Nov. 24 and 25 and Dec. 1 and 2. The tree will be decorated with donated hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, socks and little bags of candy, which will be given to the AW/ARE shelter residents after the festival.
Volunteers will be commissioned and businesses supporting the project will be thanked during the church's 10:45 a.m. Oct. 22 worship service.
- The middle school students at St. Joseph School in Sharon will be making "Fun Bags" for children ages 2 to 6 for the Prince of Peace Center. The students will collect items such as Pokemon cards, crayons, coloring books and Play-Doh to fill the bags. The students will hand out the bags when people come into the Prince of Peace Center to make purchases.
- The Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Sharon 507, will be collecting groceries, non-perishable items, clothing, toys, children's books and other items between noon and 3 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Knights of Columbus Home, 1073 Division St., to donate to the Prince of Peace Center in Farrell.
- The Americorps VISTA Team will be collecting items to make unisex comfort kits for adults and children to donate to the Red Cross for disaster victims. Ten VISTA Team members, 10 Mercer County Housing Authority residents, the Red Cross and children will meet at 10 a.m. Oct. 28 at the Community Center, 211 Federal St., Farrell, to assemble the kits, which will contain disposable razors, shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, facial tissue, washcloths, combs, crayons and activity coloring books.
- The Hermitage Girl Scouts are collecting diapers, newborn to size 4; baby wipes; baby toiletries; onesies; socks; sleepers and blankets to donate to Catholic Charities, which helps low-income mothers-to-be and children under one year of age. The Girl Scouts will also make "Welcome Baby" cards and "boo-boo bunnies," bunny-shaped ice cube holders made out of washcloths, on Oct. 28 at Treefoils Girl Scout Camp on North Neshannock Road in Hermitage.