Several opportunities are available for donating to local needy families in the community during the holiday season, including the following:

• Mackinac County Children’s Toy Drive: Donation canisters are located at the Zodiac Party Store, Holiday gas station, and the Big Boy restaurant in St. Ignace and donation boxes collecting new toys, clothing, and electronics are available at the following locations: The St. Ignace News office, all locations of First National Bank, Glen’s Markets, the Gold Mine, True Value, and U.P. State Credit Union. Donation cards

donors’ names may also be found in local businesses. Kewadin Casino is collecting toys and winter clothes for the toy drive through Monday, December 7, as part of their “Care with us this holiday season.” Donations may also be mailed to Mackinac County Children’s Toy Drive in care of Wendy Colegrove, 152 Bertrand Street, St. Ignace Michigan 49781 or The St. Ignace News, P.O. Box 277, St. Ignace.

• Santa’s Elves: Toys can be donated through Thursday, December 10, at Cedarville Foods in Cedarville. Gift requests can be selected from a Christmas tree at the store and wrapped gifts may be dropped off there with the request tag attached. Clothing is not a suggested donation. Cash donations may be made all year to Santa’s Elves in care of Kate Ter Haar, 803 Islington Road, Cedarville Michigan 49719. More information is available from Mrs. Ter Haar at 484-3610 or Pat O’Brien at 484- 3520.

• Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive: The Les Cheneaux Community Library in Cedarville is collecting sweaters through Tuesday, December 15, to be donated to families in the community. The library is partnering with Cedarville Secret Santa and Cedar Post to distribute the sweaters. The sweater drive is hosted through WCMU Public Broadcasting Network in honor of Fred Rogers.

• St. Ignace Moose Lodge 999 Christmas Food Basket Drive: Baskets containing the ingredients for a Christmas dinner will be distributed to needy families by lodge members and members of the U.S. Coast Guard Saturday, December 19. Monetary donations may be sent to Moose Lodge 999, P.O. Box 305, St. Ignace Michigan 49781. Make checks payable to Moose Lodge and indicate Christmas basket fund. More information is available from the lodge at 643-8785.

• Hope Chest and St. Ignace Food Pantry: The Hope Chest building on Ferry Lane houses the resale store and the St. Ignace Food Pantry. Donations of resale items are accepted at the Hope Chest store Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The food pantry is open for donations and for those who need food Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Right now, the pantry is in need of baby diapers, sugar, macaroni and cheese, Ramen noodles, mashed potatoes, canned ravioli and spaghetti, ketchup and mustard, pork and beans, and canned fruit.

For emergency needs, call the St. Ignace Area Hope hotline for assistance at 643-6780. Monetary donations are accepted for either program. More information is available by calling the store at 643-7360.

• Cedar Post Thrift Store and Food Pantry: Donations are accepted every day except Sunday at the store in Cedarville, from noon to 4 p.m. Monetary donations may be dedicated to the food pantry specifically. Right now, the pantry is in particular need of dry goods, blankets, winter footwear and clothing, paper products, dish soap, baby diapers, toothpaste, shampoo, and other toiletry items.

• Mitten Tree, First National Bank: A Christmas tree at the main office of First National Bank in St. Ignace is decorated with hooks, awaiting the donation of mittens, scarves, and hats that can be hung on the tree for needy children and families. Donations will be accepted through Wednesday, December 16. They will be distributed before Christmas with Mackinac County Children’s Toy Drive donations.

• Les Cheneaux Student Council Winter Clothing Drive: Winter clothing may be donated beginning Monday, November 30, through Friday, December 11. Items such as winter coats, hats, mittens, boots, and snowpants may be dropped off at the Les Cheneaux Elementary office in Cedarville during school hours, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Student Council members will distribute donations to students in the school who are in need of such items, and the rest will be donated to Cedar Post Thrift Store.

• West Mackinac County Food Pantry: The pantry in Engadine is accepting monetary donations for utilities and food donations. The pantry is in need of paper products, meat, and frozen juice. Donations will be accepted Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. Donations may also be made by calling Nancy Polachek at 477-1050.

• Kewadin Casinos: Kewadin Casinos is providing a drop-off location for food, toys, and winter clothing. Through Monday, December 7, each Kewadin property will have collection areas for food, warm clothing, or toys near each of the casino’s restaurants. Customers will be able to drop off items in this area and then fill out an entry slip to be in a drawing for a local $50 shopping spree. (Four gift certificates will be given per site)

Items collected will be donated to the following causes:

• Sault Ste. Marie - Feeding America (Formerly EUP Food Bank)

• St. Ignace - St. Ignace Hope and Food Pantry and Mackinac County Children’s Toy Drive

• Hessel - Cedar Post Food Pantry and Thrift Shop

• Christmas - Alger County Women’s Shelter and St. Vincent De Paul

• Manistique - St. Vincent De Paul and Good Neighbors Thrift Shop

In addition to the items collected, Kewadin will donate up to $500 to the above organizations.

To list a local holiday charity drive in this space at no charge, call 643-9150.