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Operation Holiday Short Of Donations As It Prepares To Distribute Items To Those In Need

Deborah Shaar
/
KMUW
Operation Holiday officials say they need more donations, like nonperishable food items, for their annual assistance program.

Operation Holiday, Wichita’s largest holiday assistance program, says it’s running far behind on collecting donations.

Officials with HumanKind Ministries, formerly InterFaith Ministries, say they are well short of their desired donations goal with distribution days about a week away.

HumanKind Ministries serves between 14,000 and 16,000 people each year through its programs.

With its current donations, HumanKind would only be able to provide one can of food, one child’s coat and one blanket to each household participating in the program. Distribution will take place Dec. 16-18.

Mis Gaston, director of Operation Holiday, says children’s coats are a top priority. And she says nonperishable food items like peanut butter, canned meat and canned vegetables are always needed.

“If someone doesn’t have time to get to the store to buy any nonperishable food items, we are able to make the dollar go further by being a nonprofit organization,” Gaston said. “So we always are accepting monetary donations as well.”

Donations will continue to be accepted at the Operation Holiday offices, all Dillons locations and the former Sears store at Towne West Square.

Saturday is Dillons Day of Giving. HumanKind volunteers will be at Dillions locations asking shoppers to make donations. Participating locations include:

From 9 a.m. to noon:

  • 135th and Maple
  • 21st and Amidon
  • Harry and Webb
  • 37th and Woodlawn

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

  • Central and Rock
  • 21st and Maize

For more information and a list of all donation locations, go Operation Holiday's website

Mya Acosta is an intern in the KMUW News Lab.