Give the gift of music: Ways to help this holiday in your community

Give to Continuum Arts Collective second Annual Giving Tree

NORTH BERWICK - Continuum Arts Collective (CAC) is hosting its second Annual Giving Tree to provide free musical instruments, art supplies, and creative instruction for at least 100 lucky student artists and musicians in Southern Maine and New Hampshire this holiday season.

Last year, CAC assisted 135 student artists and musicians with free guitars, ukuleles, amps, keyboards, drums, brass, and wind instruments for musicians and art kits for preteen and adolescent student visual artists.

Students can apply for instruments and art supplies by going to continuumarts.org/apply. If approved, students and their families can pick up these materials at CAC headquarters in North Berwick, Maine, on Saturday, Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

CAC is accepting donations to support its giving tree at continuumarts.org/donate. All donations are tax-deductible. Every donation is acknowledged on social media, and an ornament with the donor’s name is placed on the giving tree.

Continuum Arts Collective is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that assists working-class families and their K-12 student artists and musicians in Maine and New Hampshire by providing free musical instruments, art supplies, creative instruction, and experiences to flourish as creators. For more information, go to continuumarts.org or contact CAC Executive Director Martin England at martin@continuumarts.org.

Operation Santa Claus call for sponsors and donors

CONCORD —  State employees are gearing up for the 62nd consecutive year of organizing Operation Santa Claus, a statewide program that coordinates with the Department of Health & Human Services to provide gifts for children receiving state services.

Now in its 62nd year, Operation Santa Claus serves more than 3,000 children across the state with more than 500,000 gifts. Dozens of retirees and volunteers from different state agencies work around the clock starting in the late summer months to ensure a successful year for OSC, founded by the State Employees’ Association in 1960. The success of this program is made possible with generous donations and sponsorships from members of the State Employees’ Association, the National Guard, community volunteers, and of course, anyone who wishes to help.

With fewer funds and more needy children, donations are more impactful than ever. Therefore, new sponsorships are being requested; if you are interested in sponsoring a child, direct contributions are best and can be made by visiting the State Employees’ Association website at https://seiu1984.org/osc/.

For more information on the Operation Santa Claus project, visit www.facebook.com/OperationSantaClausNH or www.operationsantanh.org. Help make this Christmas season memorable for New Hampshire’s children and families.

Families First and Goodwin Community Health in need of gift cards

PORTSMOUTH — Families First and Goodwin Community Health are requesting gift cards for our patients and clients. Our staff works directly with clients to discern their needs and provide assistance. Your gift card donation helps us to meet our clients’ personal needs and remove barriers to living a healthy life. The following is a list of gift cards needed: $10 gas cards, to get to medical appointments; $10 pharmacy cards, for medications or prenatal vitamins; $20 Wal-Mart cards; $25 grocery cards, for food and formula; $25 Amazon cards, for necessities for people with limited transportation. To donate any of these items, please contact Lisa Zhe at lzhe@familiesfirstseacoast.org.

Wreaths Across America in Fremont and East Kingston

EAST KINGSTON — Remember, Honor, and Teach is the mission of the Wreaths Across America Program. Through this program wreaths are placed on the gravesites of veterans during the holiday season. Wreaths Across America would like to place wreaths on the veterans’ gravesites in Fremont and East Kingston. Approximately 350 veterans are buried in Fremont and East Kingston. With your help we will be able to honor each of them with a wreath of remembrance. Wreaths cost $15 each. Ten dollars pays for the construction and delivery of the wreath. The remaining $5 will be used to support two local Veterans Centers that provide for the needs of our homeless veterans.

Please order a wreath or volunteer your services. Your gift will not only remember and honor those veterans who have passed on, but will also provide food, shelter, clothing, and training for our homeless veterans. Please call Gerry Tilley at 603-479-0798 further information.

Help our homeless veterans

EAST KINGSTON — The East Kingston Community United Methodist Church and the Peoples United Methodist Church in cooperation with the public libraries in Fremont, East Kingston and Brentwood, N.H. are sponsoring a drive to assist two Veterans’ Centers that serve homeless veterans, Liberty House in Manchester, N.H. and the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center in Haverhill, Mass.

The following items are needed: soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream, hand lotion, knitted and crochet hats for men, women and children, and quilts, afghans and sleeping bags. All donated items must be newly purchased or made.

Please deliver your donations to these collection sites: East Kingston Public Library, Fremont Public Library, Mary E. Bartlett Public Library in Brentwood, N.H., Fremont Town Hall, East Kingston Town Hall, the Peoples United Methodist Church in Fremont, N.H., and the East Kingston Community United Methodist Church. Note: Quilts, afghans and sleeping bags can only be accepted at the Mary E. Bartlett Library in Brentwood, N.H.

The drive will continue through Thursday, Dec. 15. For further information, please call Gerry Tilley at 603-479-0798.

Become a Thankful Giving campaign sponsor

SEACOAST — Become a Thankful Giving campaign sponsor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire today. Our goal is to raise $100,000 during the month of November. Who were the mentors in your life? How did they help you achieve your goals? Honor them by supporting BBBSNH and the youth we serve. BBBSNH changes the lives of youth in our community by providing them with a one-to-one mentor to give them the confidence to dream big! For more information or to become a sponsor, visit https://give.bbbsnh.org/campaign/thankful-giving-campaign-2022/c425321.

Sneaker donations wanted

HAMPTON — Hampton United Methodist Church, 525 Lafayette Road, Hampton, is collecting gently worn, used or new sneakers. The sneakers that we collect will help raise money to support our outreach and mission projects as well as helping our environment by keeping sneakers out of landfills. Sneakers can be dropped off at the church office Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you would like more information, please go to our website, hamptonnhumc.org, call the church office at 603-926-2702 or email hamptonumc@myfairpoint.net.

Portsmouth Public Library Coat Swap

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Public Library invites you to "get in the holiday spirit by helping those in the community with a donation of your unneeded cold-weather clothing." Drop offs (175 Parrot Ave.) between Monday, Nov. 21 and Wednesday, Nov. 23. Anyone who would benefit can stop by the library between Nov. 28 and Jan. 7. Free and open to all.

Cat Tales is seeking donations

SEABROOK — Get to know Cat Tales Rescue is a local 501©3 nonprofit, dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of homeless felines. This past year, Cat Tales has rescued more than 900 cats, and over 1,000 were adopted in 2021.  Cat Tales experienced a very busy kitten season in 2022.  Just as they were hoping it was winding down, a large intake of even more youngsters occurred recently.

Currently, donations are needed to get the next 24 kittens fixed.  Please visit: https://www.venmo.com/u/Cat-Tales-1 or, go to the website, www.cattalesnh.org.  Your continued support is greatly appreciated.    All animals deserve a safe and caring home. Cat Tales is working to achieve that reality.

3rd Annual Holiday Giving

ROCHESTER — Alex and Associates is holding their 3rd annual Holiday Giving to benefit the Spaulding High School Raiders Station pantry for the students in need. Please consider helping us by donating gift cards for local grocery stores, Walmart, Visa gift cards, any type of restaurant gift card, Dunkin's gift cards, non-perishable food, toiletries, socksm sweatshirts, blankets, anything you think these young adults in need may like to get them through the holidays. Drop off or mail to 1 Windhaven Dr., Rochester, NH 03867, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 15. Contact us for more information or alternate drop off days/times at alexassociatesoffice@gmail.com.

Collection for the Homeless

ROCHESTER — The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is collecting items to benefit the Homeless Center of Strafford County. Items being collected include new books for children ages 8-17, new puzzles for children ages 12-plus, toilet paper and paper towels. A full list of items needed is available at the Chamber office. Items may be brought to the Chamber office now through Dec. 17, and a collection sleigh will be available at the Tree Lighting on Dec. 3, in the vicinity of the Parson Main statue. For more information please contact the Chamber office at 603-332-5080 or visit: www.rochesternh.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Give the gift of music: Ways to help this holiday in your community