During the holidays, it is easy to get caught up in the family, friends and gifts, but many people want to find ways to support their communities too. People can donate to the following local organizations in Starkville to give back to those in need this holiday season.

Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Centers 

There are 9 nursing homes and assisted living centers spread throughout Starkville. Each center has different needs and wants for its residents. Many centers take donations and gifts like Starkville Manor Health Care & Rehabilitation, which has asked for products like body wash and hand soap and games like dominoes, solitaire cards and board games for its residents. 

Montgomery Gardens Assisted Living has also asked for a wide range of items like Kleenex, pump hand soap and air fresheners. 

Candy Tranum, the lifestyle coordinator at Montgomery Gardens Assisted Living, explained that these sorts of products are important to residents.

“They love anything that makes their rooms smell good,” Tranum said.

They can also use notepads, individually wrapped snacks, large-print Sudoku and word-search puzzles, bookmarks, pens and pencils. 

There is plenty that could be given to those two centers, as well as the other seven. The items can all be dropped off at the centers themselves.

Also, many of the centers love for volunteers to play cards and board games with the residents, so people can give their time.

Catch-A-Dream Foundation

There are also food pantries and nonprofit organizations that need people’s support throughout the year, but especially around the holidays. Three of these nonprofits are Catch-A-Dream Foundation, Starkville Strong and Oktibbeha County Humane Society. 

Catch-A-Dream Foundation provides hunting and fishing trips to children 18 and under with life-threatening illnesses. People can help in many ways, such as creating a Facebook fundraiser, becoming a trip sponsor, making a monetary donation or participating as a volunteer through the Friends of Catch-A-Dream program. More ways to donate include purchasing Catch-A-Dream products and Copper Road Smokehouse beef jerky.

Starkville Strong

Starkville Strong is another nonprofit that provides support to the community by combating food insecurity, homelessness and housing insecurity and advocating for the community. They are always in need of help, volunteers and donations. On the website, there are donation options and an Amazon Wishlist. The wishlist includes items like shave kits, toothbrushes, toothpaste, stick deodorant, toilet paper and ramen noodles.

Brandi Herrington, the founding director of Starkville Strong, spoke about the organization’s needs.

“We are super low on hygiene items: soap, deodorant, shampoo, shaving cream and razors, toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, laundry detergent, toothbrushes and toothpaste, floss, chapstick, feminine hygiene products, diapers and wipes,” Herrington said.

Items for Starkville Strong can be dropped off at 109 S. Lafayette St. Their hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These are only a few of the items requested, and people can visit their website for more ways to help.

Those who also want to volunteer can deliver leftovers as a part of the Second Servings program or help organize and hand out food and other necessities at Neighbors Helping Neighbors, which takes place on the last Sunday of each month. The website has a page with links to sign up to volunteer.

Oktibbeha County Humane Society

Lastly, Oktibbeha County Humane Society is a nonprofit dedicated to serving Starkville by caring for the strays and pets of the community. On their website, there are Amazon and Chewy Wishlists. There are also donation options listed. These wishlists include food bowls, hand sanitizer, dog food, animal beds, Clorox, cages and cat food. Again, these are only a few options, and people can visit their website to learn more, especially those looking to volunteer. Once prospective volunteers complete training, they can help clean the shelter, care for the pets and more.

Bully’s Pantry

Donating time or resources to these organizations is just one of the many different ways people can give back to the community during the holidays. For those looking for more ways to give, more opportunities can be found at local churches, including Operation Christmas Child and the Angel Tree program. People can even donate money, food and hygiene products to Mississippi State’s own Bully’s Pantry on campus.

Carson Brantley, the supervisor of Bully’s Pantry, stated that they will accept monetary, food and personal care items.

“We just did a huge food drive across campus in November, and we are so lucky to have pretty full shelves at the moment,” Brantley said.

Although the pantry’s shelves are full now, students will shop before the winter break, so more inventory will be needed. Listed are some of the most needed food items: meals in a can, single-serving meals, canned foods with pop-top lids and cereal.

Brantley stated that items can be dropped off on the Pantry’s screened-in back porch at any time. The team there checks the porch daily to brings items inside. Bully’s Pantry is open from 1 to 4 p.m. until Dec. 11. They will then have holiday hours, which will be posted on their Instagram, @msstate_fsn. Monetary donations can be given through their website.

During the holidays, spreading cheer is an integral part of the season, and these opportunities are ways in which those interested can spread that cheer, kindness and love back to Starkville’s organizations.