Community Corner
How to Give True Gifts in Marion
If your discouraged by the endless giving of gifts to loved ones that don't need them, here are some local organizations that could take your present money and use it to help others.
Maybe you’ve become a little cynical about the true meaning of the “holiday spirit.”
Maybe the significance of the holidays is lost when you begin to feel that there’s a difference between buying presents and the unyielding, compassionate generosity that the holidays were founded on.
So, instead of buying your nephew a Nerf gun so powerful you had to file a hunting license just to open it's cardboard box, you can donate your time and money to these local agencies that work hard to provide services for those in need.
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Marion Cares. A faith based non-profit in Marion, according to their website, they offer help in the areas of, "Moral guidance, academics, technology education, recreation, family and social needs.
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. The Marion branch of the Salvation Army is always taking clothing donations.
Find out what's happening in Marionwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
. Marion's Goodwill chapter is always taking clothing donations as well.
Churches of Marion Food Pantry. This food pantry, held at Marion's First Presbyterian Church, is funded by local churches, businesses and various individuals and serves an average of 175 to 290 families per month. They are taking donations of non-perishable foods. The First Presbyterian Church is also separately taking clothing donations.
United Way of East Central Iowa. The Cedar Rapids branch of United Way raised over $10,000,000 in 2010 to support forty agencies in Linn, Jones, Cedar, Iowa, Benton and Washington counties. You can click here to donate money and here to find ways to volunteer your time.
Four Oaks. The headquarters of Four Oaks is in Cedar Rapids. The self described child welfare, juvenile justice and behavioral health agency serves area children and children all across Iowa through branches in 14 Iowa cities. Here's some information on different ways you can help.
If you know of other agencies in the area and wish to include them, feel free to email me at Scott.Raynor@patch.com.
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