Our View: Christmas spirit alive and well in Indian Land

With the troubled economy and Lancaster County’s continuing double-digit unemployment rates, charitable donations could be expected to drop this holiday season. And although some have fallen, while the needs have increased, other efforts have picked up the slack, proving once again that the Christmas spirit is alive and well here.
The food pantry at Belair United Methodist Church, which opened in 2010, draws more than 70 people each time it opens, with its numbers topping 200 on the weeks the church hosted Second Harvest this year.
But the local area has been generous in keeping its shelves full. The Indian Land High School JROTC collected 857 food items for the pantry this month. Indian Land Cub Scout Packs 275 and 216 collected more than 4,500 pounds of food, 50 coats and other items this fall for the Belair pantry. Boy Scout Troop 275 also collected food for the pantry this fall. And a recent $1,000 donation to Faith Presbyterian Church will buy a freezer for the pantry, so donations of frozen foods can be kept for those in need.

Transformation Church members donated more than $25,000 worth of gifts for 61 area families, including 147 children, through its Roll Out Hope outreach. Nearly 900 gifts, as well as Christmas dinner gift cards, were given to the families last weekend.
Sun City Carolina Lakes’ Angel Tree collected 450 to 500 gifts to help 40 or so local families and 30 children at Lancaster Children’s Home. Its Thanksgiving food drive collected 80 bags of food and more than $1,200 in gift cards and donations for 35 local families.
Higher Ground Church again provided Thanksgiving meals to 5,000 needy people in the county.
Gateway Church of God’s annual trip to the Appalachians helped feed and clothe more than 2,000 there.
The Indian Land Rotary Club and Carolina Lakes Golf  Club delivered eight bags of groceries and other items to the Lancaster and Rock Hill children’s homes this month from a new drive that will continue through next year.   
On Saturday, Van Wyck Postmaster Betty George and the Charlotte Road/Van Wyck Volunteer Fire Department escorted Santa as he delivered gifts and food to 12 children, six senior citizens and two families.
On Christmas Eve, Pleasant Valley and Indian Land  volunteer fire departments and their Explorers will accompany Santa as he delivers toys, clothing and food collected by the departments, churches, Boy Scouts and other organizations to 28 families in need here.
If you have yet to make your holiday donation, there are a few that still need help. The Christmas Basket Fund, which provides $25 grocery gift cards for local families in need, still needs donations. Mail your donation to Christmas Basket Fund, P.O. Box 166, Lancaster, SC 29721; or drop it off at The Lancaster News office, 701 N. White St., Lancaster.
Christian Services in Lancaster still has about 120 angels that no one has picked up. Each angel represents a child in need of a gift. Donations (cash or gifts) may be dropped off at Christian Services, 200 E. Dunlap St., Lancaster; or mailed to Christian Services, 101 S. White St., Lancaster, SC 29720, through Christmas Eve.
It’s heartwarming to see that we’re still willing to help those in worse shape than us. It’s proof positive that the giving spirit of Christmas is still alive here.
Merry Christmas to all.