Needs rise after holiday

The holidays have passed and along with them the many requests for help – coats, food, toys – everything for the holidays.

And in that is the concern.

The winter is beginning in earnest now; cold temperatures, gardens frozen over. Now is when folks need the most help. Heat and food – the most basic needs – are in short supply.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) is more difficult to get, and food pantries will face running low on food.

So, for the next few months we need to be cognizant of these needs in our communities. For instance, you can donate money to help with fuel costs. 

Even a little goes a long way. Donations may not pay for all heating costs, but it will definitely help assist those who are in dire need of heat this winter.

Contact Community Concepts at 743-7716 or take a ride to Market Square to donate.

Or, if we all just drop off a few items to our local food pantries every week it could make all the difference.

You could also donate a warm winter jacket for those without one; the Coat Room in Oxford is always looking for help. The store is open to everyone, and the coats and other outerwear are all donated and free to the public.

We can all afford to stretch a little thinner, so that everyone can be a bit more secure this winter.