Block Of Bucks Donations Down This Year

A number of volunteers came out this weekend to help facilitate this year's Block of Bucks event that helps out families and children with the purchase of essential winter clothing. Each year, the event is organized and implemented by Caring Hands, Inc. as well as a number of community volunteers.

On Dec. 1, volunteers took shifts from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to stand at the downtown intersections, by the Glasgow Post Office and D&G Sports and Western, to collect funds for the Dec. 2 shopping day. At the end of the day, a total of $17,280 was raised, which is down from last year's total of $39,749. Organizers from Caring Hands, Inc. believe the decrease in funds raised are due to a number of different factors including Dec. 1 coming up quickly this year and the many other opportunities available for donating within the community.

Though donations were lower than expected, Block of Bucks was still able to serve 192 families with 82 kids, and each child received $90 to spend. With a total of 23 shopping volunteers, Dec. 2 was spent shopping for warm clothes and winter gear at the participating businesses, which included Aster & Rose, D& G Sports and Wester, Elle Boutique, Markle's Ace Hardware, Mary's Mercantile, Red Barn, Thistle & Thread and Shippwrecked. Albertsons and Reynold's Market were available for diaper purchases. In addition to having clothes at the Thistle & Thead store front, owners Briana Page and Ashley Kemmis also had a pop-up store at the Glasgow Elks where families could purchase underwear, socks, leggings, mittens and hats.

Any funds that were not fully utilized by the families and children, will be donated back into the community. As of press time, the left over amount was not yet determined so plans are still in process of how the funds will be used. Last year left over funds were utilized to provide free school lunches to Valley County students one day a week for a month.

A number of volunteers helped the families shop for the needed gear in addition to the seasoned volunteers who have been helping out at this event for many years. To keep the volunteers fueled, Albertsons donated beef sticks and trail mix, D&G donated donuts, Mattfeldt Electric donated a water bottle and Independence Bank donated a pen, note pad and sanitizer.

Block of Bucks is open to all Valley County families though the only collection is in Glasgow. There was overwhelming gratitude from the families who participated and there were many smiles on the children's faces after receiving the warm boots, tennis shoes and clothing.

In addition to the annual Block of Bucks, Caring Hands, Inc. provides holiday gift cards for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas to families in need, provide bags of female products to Valley County schools, hand out scholarships and host a baby shower with gifts being handed out to the Hi-Line Homes and the Glasgow Police Department for distribution, among providing other donations throughout the community.