By Anna Johns
WKTV Intern
This holiday season set aside some time and make the holidays brighter for your fellow community members in need. Kentwood’s annual holiday giving programs have returned and they are looking for a variety of donations.
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation has partnered with Home Instead Senior Care for the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program. More 17 years, the program has provided gifts to low income seniors. To date, more than two million gifts have been given to about 750,000 seniors. To participate in this event, select a tag by calling 616-656-5270. Next, purchase the item(s) listed on the tag, wrap the gift, tape the tag to the outside, and return it to the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, by Dec. 16. For more information visit beasantatoasenior.com.
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation is also hosting the Holiday Hat and Mitten Tree. For this event, the department is asking residents for new and gently used hats, scarves, mittens, coats, boots, snow pants, socks, and blankets. These items will be donated to local schools and nearby community organizations that need support this winter. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 16 and can be dropped off at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, during business hours.
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation is also accepting donations for Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry. Donations are accepted year-round and with so many impacted by the COVID pandemic, the need is even greater this year. Canned goods, non-perishable food, personal care items are just some of the suggested donations. A complete list is available at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.
At the pantry, those in need are invited to take anything they need with no application, and no questions asked. Donations for the pantry can be dropped off at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, during normal business hours. For more information, or to become collection bin location, visit kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.
Joanne Bailey-Boorsma contributed to this story.
