As you prepare for the hustle and bustle of the holidays, why not print this grocery list and keep it with you as a helpful reminder as you shop. 

Have you picked up the wish list from the family you are sponsoring yet? Four Ways You Can Bring Christmas Home >>

Want to add some extra food items for the kids? Here in another list to click and print! Extra Food for the Kids: Christmas Basket Food Items >>

Suggested Menu Items:

Turkey or Ham

3-5 lbs of Potatoes & Onions

3-5 lb bag of Apples or

3-4 Canned Fruit

Margarine/Butter

Gallon of Milk

Dinner Rolls,

Whole Wheat Bread, etc.

Deserts:

Homemade/Pre-made:

Pies, Cakes, Cookies

Ingredients for 1-2 Side Dishes:

Green Bean Casserole

(2 Cans Green Beans, 1 Can Cream of Mushroom, Milk, Dried Onions)

Corn Casserole

(1 Can Kernel Corn, 1 Can Cream Corn, 1 Jiffy Cornbread Mix, Sour Cream, Egg)

About Community Christmas Coalition
The Community Christmas Coalition (CCC) is made possible by the collaborative efforts of The Marshall County Neighborhood Center, Plymouth Community School Corporation, Leadership Marshall County, Shop With A Cop, Boys & Girls Club, TritCommunity Christmas Coalition. The CCC's mission to Bring Christmas Home to all Marshall County families. 
Last year CCC impacted over 500 local families, by providing them with gifts and meals from their fellow neighbors. This year will be the third year that the CCC helps the local community during the Christmas season and appreciates all of the local support, donations and service of the community members and volunteers. 

Contact: Marshall County Neighborhood Center  
www.marshallcountyneighborhoodcenter.com
402 W. Garro St. Plymouth / 574-936-3388    

For Updates – “Like” us on Facebook

There are four ways you can participate and help our local families. Check out how you can sponsor a local family this Christmas > 4 Ways You Can Bring Christmas Home


Kids are at home from school during Christmas Break and without school lunch or breakfast served. Many will miss daily meals.

Suggested items to consider adding to your Christmas basket:

• Peanut Butter & Jelly 
  
• Granola Bars
  
• Hot Cocoa
  
• Mac & Cheese
  
• Apples, Bananas
  
• Carrots, Celery, Raisins
  
• Cereal & Instant Oatmeal
  
• Pancake Mix & Syrup
  
• Spaghetti Os
  
• Jell-o/Pudding

Last year, the Marshall County's Community Christmas Coalition impacted over 500 local families by providing them with gifts and meals that were hand delivered. 

Want to know how YOU can help "Bring Christmas Home" to the local families in need this year? Here are four ways you can make a difference during this holiday season: 

1. Directly Sponsor a Family (recommended)
Select a family, get their wish list by contacting the MCNC, shop, wrap and deliver gifts in time for Christmas morning. 

2. Anonymously Sponsor a Family 
See #1 and deliver the wrapped gifts for your family directly to the Center.

3. Donate Dollars
Contribute any amount. Consider donating at least $150, the recommended costs of providing a Christmas basket for a family of four. 

4. Team Up, Serve and Give Together
Share the service opportunity and team up with others from your church, community organization or workplace to help rally support. This makes a rewarding community service project. Pledge to sponsor __# of families and divvy up the shopping, wrapping and delivering together! 


About Community Christmas Coalition

The Community Christmas Coalition (CCC) is made possible by the collaborative efforts of The Marshall County Neighborhood Center, Plymouth Community School Corporation, Leadership Marshall County, Shop With A Cop, Boys & Girls Club, TritCommunity Christmas Coalition. The CCC's mission to Bring Christmas Home to all Marshall County families. 
Last year CCC impacted over 500 local families, by providing them with gifts and meals from their fellow neighbors. This year will be the third year that the CCC helps the local community during the Christmas season and appreciates all of the local support, donations and service of the community members and volunteers. 

Contact: Marshall County Neighborhood Center  
www.marshallcountyneighborhoodcenter.com
402 W. Garro St. Plymouth / 574-936-3388    


For Updates – “Like” us on Facebook




 

To accomodate this year's holiday donations, we are in need of off-site storage space. We are asking for free, dry space in the Plymouth area, where we can hold donated food, toys and clothing until the Christmas holiday.  If you have any space to donate, please contact Sara Hill.

Got any plans for those adorable Halloween costumes your kids wore last year? 

We are accepting Halloween Costumes for our 2nd Annual Costume Giveaway! 

Scary or sweet costumes for all ages and in all sizes are welcome. You can donate your gently used costumes during office hours (Monday through Friday, 9 to 4; Wednesday 9 to 7.)

The costumes collected will be made available for distribution starting October 18th through the 27th during Clothing Pantry hours (Tuesdays 9 to noon; Wednesdays 9 to 4; Thursdays 1 to 4.)

Call our office with any questions and thank you for sharing with the families here in our own community. 

We are pleased to announce the success of some recent local food drives that have helped stock our food pantry's shelves. We are grateful for all of you who participated to help us!

The recent Post Office Mail Carrier Food Drive took place on Saturday, May 14th. It brought in 3,000 pounds of food. Their total for the day was 9,000 lbs, which was split evenly between our food pantry and the Bread of Life and House of the Lord Food Pantries.

Washington Elementary School hosted a Walk-A-Thon for our benefit.  They provided us with several boxes of canned and dried goods. Also, the Wythougan Toastmasters led a drive that brought us many items that can be applied to "toast" including cases of peanut butter and jelly and tuna to name a few items. They also provided us with a monetary donation.

Plymouth LP Gas is conducting a summer food drive, whereby they allow their customers to donate food for LP discounts. They will bring us the donations every two weeks.

If you are interested in leading up a food drive, we would love to talk with you! Check out a previous blog post for how to get started, or contact our office for more details. 

Thank you to all who helped with these drives. Due to recent cut backs to our regular funding and donations we are in need throughout the summer to bring items into our food pantry. We would gladly accept your donated items or your initiative to lead a drive with your place of business, church or school project. 

We encourage you to participate in Stamp Out Hunger campaign! This national food drive is being led by the United States Postal Service and your letter carrier is planning on picking up any and all of the non-perishable food items you place into a bag next to your mail box next Saturday, May 14th. 

Due to the decrease in funding in the recent months, the MCNC is in a current deficit and is seeking large quantities of items for the food pantry. Just to fill the shelves through the summer months, the cost is nearly $10,000. With the loss of over $30,000 in funding, your contributions are in urgent need! 

Pictured below is a photo of items donated by the Plymouth Public Library and 3M just ONE WEEK AGO! Items were overflowing at that time and, seven days later, are now depleted. Serving over 1200 families in our county, there is an urgent need for more items to be replenished. Will you and your large group lead a food drive to help? 

MCNC is seeking companies, service organizations, youth groups, students and ministries to lead up efforts for a food drive. You may contact Sarah Hendrix for details on the types of food items they are needing at the time of your drive. She also has some great ideas on how to motivate your team for a successful drive. Call Sarah today to discuss the details of your large group's food drive at 936-3388.   

For the past few years, MCNC has depended on a major ($9000) grant from FEMA in order to purchase the majority of the food for the food pantry. This year, FEMA is not renewing this funding and we are left with a huge gap to fill. Any of the following items that you can donate are much appreciated along with any case donations...we can purchase food from the food bank at only 18-27 cents on the pound for most items! Thank you!

Priority Food Pantry Needs

Jelly
Rice
Mac and Cheese
Canned Tuna
Canned Chicken
Spaghetti Noodles
Spaghetti Sauce
Instant Potatoes
Pancake Mix
Syrup
Peanut Butter
Cereal
Hamburger Helper
Tuna Helper
Ground Beef
Corn Muffin Mix
Bar Soap
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Diapers
Formula
Baby Food
Toilet Paper
Laundry Detergent
Dish Soap
Priority Clothing Pantry Needs
Children’s Socks
Baby Clothes (all sizes)
Toddler Clothing (all Sizes)
Girls Clothes 6-14
Boys Clothes 6-14
Plus Size Clothing
Maternity Clothing
Men’s Clothing
*Don’t forget, you can bring in your new/used Halloween Costumes at any time for use in our Recycled Halloween Program.

A common question we get at the Neighborhood Center is
“What can a client buy with food stamps?”

It is a common misconception that clients can purchase everything they need with food stamps. However, this isn’t true. Food stamps can be used to purchase food items only. Food stamps cannot be used to purchase any of the following

Toilet Paper
Deodorant
Soap/Body Wash
Laundry Detergent
Dish Soap
Feminine Hygiene
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Shampoo
Conditioner
Cleaning Supplies
Paper Towels