At this time of year we get caught up in the midst of madness of shopping, travel plans, and attending events. It's so easy to lose sight of the true spirit of the holiday. Giving. Not gift giving but giving of our time to help those in less fortunate situations. So many will go without Christmas. But not this year! Menifee has many different opportunities for each one of us to do something to make a difference. A difference in someone's day and possibly even a difference in their lives.

In 2010 The Menifee Christmas Dinner was created. It was founded by a group of volunteers in the community that wanted to teach the true spirit of giving during Christmas. Every year since, they have helped the elderly, new members to the community, homeless, family's with spouses who are deployed, and many others who are struggling financially throughout the city to have a warm meal on Christmas Day and toys for their children. Some of the amazing things Menifee Christmas Dinner does is hold toy drives on Haun Road across from the Countryside Marketplace, food drives which are held at Ralphs and Albertsons, delivering hot meals to elderly and homeless, and opening their doors on Christmas Day for families throughout the community that are in need. They also have an "Adopt-a-Family" for Christmas program. Your family could help bring Christmas back to another family.  Fifty families will be brought Christmas from gifts to a meal and everything in between. Everything is volunteer based and they need you. Volunteers can assist in any of the toy and/or food drives, set up on Christmas Eve Day, delivering meals on Christmas Day, and helping out with activities that they provide for the children of the families that come in on Christmas.

If you know of a family that is in need please send an email with a brief statement of why you are recommending them, their contact information, and your contact information. Every one of those families will be called and invited to Christmas Dinner. Menifee Christmas Dinner will be held on December 25th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Marion Ashley Community Center. Leftover toys after the event will be donated to Loma Linda hospital in honor of Allison Ross, a local Menifee child who lost her battle with an illness 19 years ago. If you have ever wanted to give back and show your children how to help those that don't always get to have a Christmas then they are in great need of your time and your hearts. Donations can also be left at the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard. We have watched Menifee pull together many times before with so many helping each other. Let Christmas 2013 be record-breaking for the amount of us who volunteer to make this the most successful one yet! Special thanks to Jimmy Canales for working with the community and helping us bring this to light. Let no family be alone, cold, or hungry. Together we can help everyone in our community have Christmas.

 Upcoming

· Toy Drives: (Volunteer two hour shifts) 10 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

· December 14, 2013 (Saturday), December 15, 2013 (Sunday)

· December 21, 2013 (Saturday), December 22, 2013 (Sunday)

 · Food Drives: (Volunteer an hour and a half shifts)

· Ralphs (Antelope/Newport) 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. or Albertsons 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

· December 10, 11, 12 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

· December 17, 18, 19 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

 · Menifee Christmas Dinner (Facebook page) for updates and information or (951) 852-1668

· Menifee Buzz (Facebook page) or www.menifeebuzz.com for fliers and info on how to volunteer

· Questions, comments, or concerns: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

· Marion Ashley Community Center 25625 Briggs Road Menifee, CA 92585

· Menifee Valley Community Cupboard 26944 Cherry Hills Blvd. Menifee, CA 92586