COLUMN: Chances to spread holiday cheer

Close your eyes for a minute and go back to your favorite Christmas as a child. You can probably smell, if not taste, the cookies you left under the tree for Santa.
You can probably feel the anticipation gathering up inside you. Maybe you hear the crackling of a fire place and feel your eyes getting heavy as you try to catch the man with a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly.
My guess is that most of you reading this woke up that Christmas morning with toys piled so high around the tree you didn’t know where to start.
But what if you didn’t?
What if Santa got lost along the way to your house? What if you were lucky to get a meal on Christmas morning, let alone a stocking full of candy?
You probably wouldn’t wish that on anyone — and we are very lucky here in Spencer County to have several groups who are trying their hardest to make sure it doesn’t happen for any of our children this year.
Times are tough, and we might not be able to give as much as we’d like, but I feel like I can speak for all of the following opportunities when I say even the smallest donations are appreciated.
So, if you feel so inclined and are blessed enough to do so, here are at least four opportunities to help spread a little Christmas cheer:

Sheriff’s Shining Stars
The Spencer County Sheriff’s Department is currently collecting funds to support the first-annual Sheriff’s Shining Stars Christmas gift-giving program which benefits the children of local families.
The Sheriff’s Shining Stars program is working with the Spencer County Family Resource Center to identify families that, without outside financial support, could not purchase Christmas gifts. The sheriff’s department will receive wish lists from the identified children and will use the money collected to buy gifts.
The gifts will be presented to the children at a dinner for the children and their parents on Dec. 18, 4 p.m. at the Taylorsville-Spencer County Chamber of Commerce building.
Donations should be dropped by the sheriff’s department during business hours. If anyone is unable to drop a donation off at the office, the office can be contacted and a deputy will pick up the donation. For additional information, call 502-477-3200.

Shop with a Trooper
The Kentucky State Police will host Shop with a Trooper this year. Trooper Ron Turley will head the effort up, along with the help of Spencer County resident Kyle Bennett. All of the proceeds will benefit Spencer County children.
To donate, call Turley at 502-227-2221, Bennett at 502-477-5161, or drop off monetary donations at The Tea Cup on Main Street. Checks should be made payable to KSP Post 12/Shop with a Trooper. Turley said donations are tax deductible and donors will be provided with a documentation letter upon request.

Toy Sale
The Spencer County Ministerial Association is once again hosting a community Thanksgiving service and Toy Sale.
The Thanksgiving service is Sunday at 7 p.m. at Taylorsville United Methodist Church. Bro. Greg Knapper will bring the message.
During the service, a special offering is collected to benefit this year’s Toy Sale.
Through the Toy Sale, which is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at First Baptist Church, the ministerial association is able to purchase quality Christmas gifts, which are in turn purchased by families at a 90 percent discount.
Anyone wishing to donate can do so at the community Thanksgiving service or by sending a check to the Spencer County Ministerial Association, c/o Greg Taylor, 1286 Briar Ridge Road, Mount Eden, Ky. 40046, with “Toy Sale” in the memo line.

Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots drop off boxes are plentifully available throughout the community. Donations of new, unwrapped toys are being accepted at:
Briar Ridge General Store
Citizens Union Bank
Dairy Queen
Dollar General
Elite Family Dentistry
Elmars BP
Envision Salon
Family Diner
Knights of Columbus
O’Driscoll’s Spirits
Pappy Restaurant
Peoples Bank
Ransdell Dentistry
Spencer County Extension Service
Spencer County Library
Taylorsville-Spencer County Fire
Department
The Tea Cup