Deadlines are nearing for several holiday outreaches that are working to bring a better Christmas to Wilkes County citizens.

Tomorrow, December 11, is the deadline to submit a request for the Washington Police Department’s “Gifts for Children” campaign. After all the requests are in, volunteers will help Santa with gift wrapping or bike assembly, and Santa will make the annual distribution on Wednesday, December 23, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Washington Police station.

The deadline is Saturday for donations to the annual Angel Tree drive, which brings Christmas gifts to needy local families. The delivery of gifts is set for the following Saturday, December 19, beginning at 9 a.m. “All volunteers are welcome,” said drive chairman Tammy Bryngelson.

Shoeboxes for Wilkes County seniors are coming in from churches and organizations, Margie Burke said. “We’ve identified 114 seniors in facilities around the county that we’ll be taking gift boxes to, and our deadline is next Wednesday, December 16.”

Already this year, Wilkes County donors have filled hundreds of gift shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse to deliver to needy children throughout the U.S. and the world. The 859 gift boxes were assembled by the congregations of Baptist churches around the area and collected last month at First Baptist Church in Washington for delivery.

In addition, God’s Marketplace and area churches worked together to collect coats, hats, and gloves to distribute to needy local families last week.