Have you ever checked out our Clickstop News room? This section of our website, along with our blog, is an excellent space to stay up-to-date with the things that are happening at Clickstop. If you have checked it out recently, you probably noticed our press release about Clickstop Cares helping out those in need for Christmas. This is our Holly Jolly Christmas program.  We feel very fortunate to be able to help those in need and make the holidays special for local families. Read the press release below!

Clickstop Cares with support from Clickstop employees continued its holiday tradition of adopting area needy families to provide them with gifts, food, and basic necessities.

Last month the nonprofit organization helped 15 families – a total of 77 individuals – from Benton, Buchanan, and Linn counties as part of its Operation Holly Jolly Christmas program.

Clickstop Cares, created and managed by employees of Clickstop, works closely with area schools and agencies to find those who could use assistance. Each of the families supplied a wish list with requests ranging from kids’ toys to clothes and bedding.

A budget was allotted per family based on the number of members. Clickstop employees then teamed up to go shopping, supplementing their collections with new and gently used clothing, coats, shoes, boots, and more from the Clickstop Cares Closet. Wrapped packages were delivered to parents for distributing on Christmas Day.

“I am so humbled by the generosity of my fellow Clickstoppers,” said Tammy Karr, Clickstop Cares board member. “They really stepped up and helped families in need.”

In addition, a food drive competition within the company gathered 565 donated items and 118 toiletries to divvy up among the families. Dubbed a Food Fight, departments earned one point per food item, while they could add household cleaning supplies, paper products, or toiletries to others’ boxes to take away points.

About 170 canned goods from that collection went to a local mobile food pantry. According to Karr, many kids don’t get enough to eat during holiday breaks from school.

“Parents faced with how they will put a gift under the tree or how they are going to put food on the table – they now have relief knowing they found a solution,” Karr said.

In 2014, Feeding America identified an overall food insecurity rate of 11 percent in Benton County. Children considered food insecure came in at 18 percent, which represents 1,150 kids.

“When our employees are willing and able to donate, I am reminded of the true spirit of giving and why what we are doing is so important,” Karr said.

To learn about volunteer and donation opportunities, visit the Clickstop Cares Facebook page, call 1-888-794-1413 or email Cares(at)ClickstopCares(dot)org.