Here is how you can help others this holiday season:

• Embracing Military Families and the National Heritage Foundations are hoping to help families at Fort Benning who have one or more parents fighting overseas. Last year Peachtree City resident Cathy McMullen helped organize efforts that provided food, clothing and gifts for eight families in need. She was aided by donations from the Fayette County Republican Women as well as donations of money and toys from area residents. If you would like to help, phone Cathy McMullen at 770-487-0672.

• Southside Theatre Guild is asking people to donate new, unwrapped toys to decorate the Macy’s set of their Christmas show, “Miracle on 34th Street,” which runs Thursdays-Sundays, Dec. 8-18. Following the final performance of the play, all of the toys will be donated to local children’s charities. Toys can be dropped off at Oz Pizza in Fairburn or at the theater Monday, Tuesday or Thursday evenings after 7 p.m. or Saturday mornings after 10 a.m. Phone 770-969-0956 or visit www.stgplays.com for more information.

Southside Theatre Guild is located at 20 W. Campbellton Street in Fairburn.

• The Fayette County Animal Shelter will hold a series of events under the “Home for the Holidays” campaign. There are several events planned for the month of December. The goal of the shelter is to find more animals homes in December than any other month of the year. The “Home for the Holidays” campaign is led by the Helen Woodward Center and is joined by 2,000 other animal shelters to promote adoptions during the season of giving. Phone 770-716-4330 or visit www.fayettecountyga.gov/animalshelter for more information.

• After all the help received during the aftermath of Katrina, the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) is looking for volunteers to help bring holiday cheer to their lobby. DFCS will have a Holiday Hostess project through Wed., Dec. 21. Volunteers will meet and greet as well as pass out goodies for the families, serve light refreshments, and change the holiday music/videos for the kids in the lobby. This service will be provided from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday through Friday. To find out more info call 770-460-2477.

• Fayette Holiday Helpers need more sponsors for the families in our county who need help for Christmas gifts and food. If you are interested, please contact them directly at 678-817-0004. They are currently operating Mon.- Fri., 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Katrina families need your help. There are still many families who need assistance after their devastating loss due to Hurricane Katrina. These families are in need of many standard household items such as washers/dryers, vacuums, furniture, etc. as well as help paying their rent. Individuals and groups that would like to help out should contact Angie Gaspard at 404-808-7457 or questatg@aol.com.

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