RISON - With the holiday season fast approaching, the Cleveland County Care Fund is once again accepting donations to help local families in need have a Christmas this year as well as meet other pressing needs they may have.
In efforts to raise more funds, the organization will host a special Christmas Bingo this Saturday, Dec. 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. as part of the Christmas in the Village festival at the Pioneer Village.
Prizes at the game include baked goods, gift items and certificates from local merchants.
Malinda McKnight of Rison, a former administrator for the Cleveland County Department of Human Services (DHS) office, said the fund has provided dozens of children and adults in the county with Christmas presents as well as clothing, food and other necessities of life.
"Playing bingo is a fun way to raise money for the cause," McKnight said, "But the truth is donations have been slim this year and it looks like we are really going to have a lot of kids." McKnight said there are some (continued from page 1) families that are destitute, and they are not normally in a bad situation.
"We had two of those families just this past week," she said. "The economy is hitting us all." From her years with DHS, McKnight said she saw first hand how some people can fall between the cracks despite all the government support programs that are out there. She said she it was not uncommon for all the workers at the DHS office to get together as individuals to help those people who they knew really needed help.
It was that need for help that prompted McKnight to get involved with Cleveland County Cares after she retired.
The organization provides high-quality items for families during the holiday season.
"We try to meet their essential needs, but also fulfill some of their wants as well. That's what Christmas is about," she said.
McKnight noted that the fund is used only for those individuals w...
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