Join our community in making Christmas magical for children across Hancock County. The holidays always bring forth plenty of opportunities for citizens to lend a helping hand to those in their community who need it. You’ll be sure to stay on Santa’s “nice” list when you participate!
- by Kirby Rhodes, Editor 
Bay Rollers Cycle Club
Over the last ten years, club members have worked diligently in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas to gather, assemble, and distribute donated bikes. However, in the last five years, the cycling club has gained community-wide attention from others looking to aid their cause. 
Children await their bicycles.
“It’s not just about the bike; it’s about teaching kids the importance of physical activity and bike safety,” Labat said. On the day of distribution, Bay Rollers members will teach a bicycle safety class to all children receiving bikes. Monetary donations can be made via Venmo @BayRollers-CycleClub. To donate bikes or helmets, please message Myron Labat via email or on the Bay Rollers Cycling Club Facebook page.
The Hancock Resource Center has partnered with Hope Haven to collect donations for Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program, and HRC's Teen Angels and Santa’s Families programs. Angels from the Salvation Army Angel Tree program have already begun circulating in the community and are due back to HRC by December 6. Toys for Tots donation boxes will be placed throughout the community, including grocery stores, churches, and local businesses. 
The Teen Angels program was created to address a gap in gift donations for kids between 12 and 18. Teenagers typically wish for more specific, expensive gifts, and holiday assistance programs always need items for kids in this age range. Gift cards are often requested by teenagers from places like Apple, Best Buy, movie theatres, Game Stop, PlayStation, Xbox, Marshalls, Beals, Walmart, etc. Hope Haven is collecting these donations and can be contacted to adopt one or more teens to meet their specific needs. Please reach out to Kaitlin Jewel with any questions or for more information at 228-466-6495. 
Santa’s Families is a program run by the Hancock Resource Center to help local families that have recently been housed. These families often have been living in tents or cars and have nothing but the clothing on their backs. Household items such as pots and pans, kitchenware, towels, bedsheets, mattresses, bed frames, and pillows are commonly needed to aid these families. The Hancock Resource Center will post on Facebook the families up for adoption and items needed this holiday season, so keep an eye out for updates. In addition to toys, games, and electronics, donations of winter coats and boots, diapers, wipes, formula, and clothes of all sizes are also welcome. Donated items should be new, unused items and should be delivered unwrapped. Donations can be dropped off at the Hancock Resource Center, 454 Highway 90, Suite B, Waveland, MS 39576, inside the PRCC shopping center. Please call HRC with any questions at (228) 463-8887. If you are involved with a community program collecting donations or offering assistance, please email the information to [email protected] so it can be added to this article. Enjoy this feature?
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