Operation Christmas 2021 planning is in progress and funds on hand are healthy after the Helping Hands Outreach Center’s project served a smaller number of families seeking assistance in 2020.

This year’s Christmas campaign opens with a $24,088 balance, according to an Aug. 31 bank report given Monday by the non-profit’s treasurer, Robert Niebruegge. Generous donors throughout the project’s history were cited for their seasonal and year-round support of HHOC projects.

Niebruegge reported the group’s Backpack project, supporting area school children with snacks and weekend foodstocks they can serve themselves, has sustained a strong balance with right at $38,000 on hand. Part of that support, reported Andrew Michel, was the Sept. 16 notice from the Parker-Hannifan Foundation’s The Blackbaud Giving Fund of a $3,000 grant.

According to the notice from the Parker-Hannifan Foundation, The Blackbaud Giving Fund is an independent public charity which sponsors a donor-advised fund program. Donors make “irrevocable charitable contributions to The Blackbaud Giving Fund and have the privilege of recommending grants to qualified charities.”

Michel also noted HHOC directors have, as of April 2021, paid off the $36,000 loan used to purchase the building on Kosark Road. Funds used for improvement to the building during an extensive $145,000 remodeling project have also been paid off.

And, groups like the Festival of Sharing organization continue to help assist with providing food stocks and personal care items for groups like HHOC. HHOC volunteers recently picked up items from the Festival of Sharing event in Tipton, Mo., which will be used locally over the next few months and into the Christmas campaign.

This event included the donations of 40 baby bundles (clothing and bedding), 16 blankets, 96 student dental kits, 114 family food packs, 96 personal hygiene kits, 50 reading and writing packs, six pack of paper products, and six cases of rice (40 pounds per case).

Items receives from the Festival of Sharing will benefit the Backpack project, Operation Christmas, and general emergency services provided by the HHOC of Gasconade County, according to Michel.

Key dates to keep in mind as the 2021 Operation Christmas campaign begins included:

• Applications for service open Tuesday, Oct. 28 (application forms are available at the HHOC building, 3522 Kosark Road).

• Family adoptions for gift items open Tuesday, Nov. 2.

• Applications and family adoptions close Tuesday, Nov. 30 (a numbered claim form to receive your food, children’s gifts , and food voucher gift cards will be mailed to intended recipients by Dec. 13).

• Boy Scout Troop 22 and Cub Pack 22 collect food stocks from area residences on Saturday, Nov. 6 (door hangers placed on Oct. 31).

• Final collection of food stocks deposited into Operation Christmas collection boxes on Friday, Dec. 3.

• Main sort of donated food stocks at HHOC starts at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6.

• Final sort and inventory at HHOC starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11.

• Packing food boxes and wrapping gifts at HHOC starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15.

• Distribution of food boxes and gifts at HHOC from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 18.

Volunteers are invited to participate in these events. Precautions will be taken to help prevent COVID-19 exposures.