WHEATLAND — If holiday anticipation has overtaken you like the Spirit of Christmas Past, there are many ways to transform the inner Ebeneezer Scrooge by donating resources to a few local charities such as the Food 4 Weekends Food Drive and the Lions Club of Wheatland Angel Tree.

Blue Raven Realty in downtown Wheatland is drop-off headquarters for the Food 4 Weekends program run by Shelley Marker. Owner of Blue Raven Realty, Sarah Lockman said, “People can drop items off to us through December 11 and we will get those things into the pantry.” The Food 4 Weekends program offers and provides free groceries for weekends and school breaks for the entire family, not just children.

“There is a small pantry that is open once a week to anyone in need. Blue Raven staff volunteered to fill backpacks for the month of November, and we noticed that the pantry was running low. That’s when we thought of having a food drive to replenish their store of food items,” Lockman added. “This is such an easy way for the community to help local families in need.”

The Food 4 Weekends is a small pantry intended to help families that may be experiencing a food deficit. Filled backpacks are provided to students in Platte County School District #1 on the weekends. The pantry is open Wednesday nights from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at 1150 Pine Street in Wheatland and backpacks are distributed to the schools for the weekends. Delivery is available on an emergency-only basis.
Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the Blue Raven Realty office located at 614 9th Street through December 11. 

Each year, the Wheatland Lions Club sponsors their Angel Tree program. Community members can choose a child (up to age 13) to receive a new present by visiting the Department of Family Services where donors can get an Angel Tree “ticket” that will be hung on the Angel Trees in Drube Home. Donated, new, unwrapped presents can be delivered to Drube Home until December 14. 

Please contact the Guernsey Lions Club to discover additional information for donations in Guernsey, Sunrise, and Hartville. Wrapped gifts can then be picked up at the Platte County Chamber of Commerce on December 16 from 8:00am – 11:00 am. Please enter at the south-side doors.