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Take part in Lake Tahoe’s giving season

Jean Eick
Special to the Bonanza
Keenan Collier delivers a frozen turkey for the Let’s Talk Turkey program to Ava Murphey, Parasol AmeriCorps member and Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator at Project MANA (center); and Heidi Allstead, Executive Director at Project MANA, this week.
Courtesy Jean Eick |

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — At this time of the year, families gather to share traditional holiday meals and children start to anticipate the magic of the season. But for many, just being able to share a family meal is not always easy.

Caring and sharing with others is a tradition in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Through local agencies such as Project MANA and Christmas Cheer, many will receive everything they need to provide a traditional holiday meal.

Further, churches, agencies, individuals and organizations work together to provide basic needs and even toys so everyone can experience the joy and magic of the season.



Taking part requires no experience, and all ages can help by making monetary donations, collecting food, saving coins, packing boxes or wrapping presents. Volunteers are as much a part of the magic and joy as monetary donations.

The following holiday giving programs in Incline Village and the Tahoe region are in need of volunteers, donations and support this holiday season. Let the caring and sharing at Tahoe begin.



Adopt-a-Family Program: Select an ornament from a special tree at the Lake Tahoe School in Incline Village between Dec. 2 and Dec. 20. Items requested are clothing items, and not toys. Return the item requested on the ornament unwrapped to the Lake Tahoe School no later than Dec. 20. Call 775-831-5828 for information.

Adopt-a Senior Program: Pick an angel ornament or select a gingerbread ornament off the tree at the IVGID Recreation Center. Angel ornaments are wishes for special items, and gingerbread ornaments provide a holiday meal. Purchases for the special items must be returned no later than Dec. 9. If you would like to send a monetary donation for both items, checks can be made payable to “IVGID, Adopt-A-Senior” and mailed or dropped off at the IVGID Rec. Center, 980 Incline Way, Incline Village, NV 89451. Call 775-832-1310 for information.

Christmas Cheer: Christmas Cheer will conduct a toy distribution Dec. 16 and Dec. 18, and a Christmas dinner distribution Dec. 22 and Dec. 23. To provide items for the distributions, contact Christmas Cheer located at 1120 3rd Street, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, or call 530-542-4934.

Evening of Giving: Residents are invited to bring a donation item from Tahoe Youth and Family Services’ annual Wish List. This year the event is 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Dec. 11, at TYFS offices in South Lake Tahoe, and 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Dec. 12 at their office in Gardnerville. For information, visit http://www.tahoeyouth.org or call 30-541-2445.

Holiday Hope Program: North Tahoe Family Resource Center in Kings Beach provides gifts and basic needs to families during the holidays. Each donor is matched with a family size of their choice, and they can decide how much they would like to contribute. To select a family, call Ana at 530-546-0952.

Incline Community Toy Drive: During the annual Christmas Tree Village Mixer from 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 6, the Incline Community Business Association will collect new unwrapped toys for the Incline Community Toy Drive. Toys can also be dropped off before Dec. 6 at the following locations in Incline Village: Incline Village Visitor Center, IV Coffee Lab, Chase International, Crosby’s, Village Toys, Susie Scoops, Bar Bar Bar, Lake Tahoe Lockshop, Redemption Sports, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, Rookies and the IVGID Recreation Center. If you do not have time to shop but want to contribute, visit http://www.visitinclinevillage.com and make a donation.

JROTC Holiday Food Drive: The Highlander Battalion is having a food drive at Incline High School for non-perishable food items through Dec. 17. Items can be dropped off at the JROTC Building, given to any JROTC cadet or placed in one of the collection barrels located in the high school. Call the school at 775-832-4260 for information.

Holiday Mail for Heroes: The Northern Nevada Red Cross in Incline Village is asking for cards of thanks, encouragement and holiday cheer that can be sent to members of the military and their families at hospitals and installations around the world. Cards can be dropped off no later than Dec. 2 at the Northern Nevada Red Cross Chapter Office in the Donald W. Reynolds Community Non-Profit Center, 948 Incline Way, Incline Village. Cards should be signed; include only cards — no letters or photos. For information, call Hunter Isgrig at 775-298-0131.

Holiday Giving Program: Pet Network Wishing Trees and Rescue Wreaths are located in local businesses in Incline Village. Buy an ornament (a dog or cat toy) off the Wishing Tree to make a donation. Buy a Rescue Wreath in honor of your friends, family or beloved pet. Or, purchase a bag of gourmet coffee online at http://www.petnetwork.org/rescueroast, which can even be personalized with a pet photo.

Let’s Talk Turkey: Project MANA’s Let’s Talk Turkey program distributed a frozen turkey and all the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving meal to more than 600 families last year. Again this year, the program is in need of frozen turkeys and canned items or monetary donations ($25 will provide a local family’s Thanksgiving meal). Drop off food or monetary donations at Project MANA’s office in the Donald W. Reynolds Community Non-Profit Center. Frozen turkeys will be accepted through Nov. 25. Call 775-298-0008 for information.

Shop with the Sheriff: The Washoe County Sheriff’s office is offering its 11th annual “Shop with the Sheriff” event for at-risk and underprivileged children ages 7-13. Last year 50 children from the Tahoe area participated, along with others from Northern Nevada. Each child is paired with a sheriff or volunteer to purchase clothing and toys up to $200 at Walmart; each also receives a $50 gift card for a holiday dinner. Cash donations for this program can be sent to Washoe County Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association, 911 Parr Blvd., Reno, NV 89512. Visiti http://www.washoesheriff.com for information.

Toys for Tots: Toys are provided to children who might not otherwise receive a toy during the holiday season. Collection barrels for new unwrapped toys are located at local drop-off stations in the Tahoe City/Truckee area. Toys and monetary donations received in Tahoe City will be distributed in Tahoe City, and toys and monetary donations received in Truckee will be distributed in Truckee. Toy collection lasts until Dec. 15. You can also bring a new unwrapped toy to one of the local community parties listed on the website. For information visit http://www.tahoe-truckee.toys fortots.org or call Elaine Durazo at 530-386-0635.


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