Metro-east charities ask for your help this holiday season

News-Democrat

Updated January 4, 2017 12:08 PM

Melanie Stith, founder of Elisha’s Cove, smiles at another group member as she walks with Jacob Bechtoldt. The new nonprofit provides respite services to families of children who have special needs. Parents get a break one Saturday of each month when the children get together to enjoy basketball, arts and crafts, games and movies. All staff who work with the children are volunteers. Derik Holtmann dholtmann@bnd.com

Blessed to Give

The BND features a different charity every day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. If you know a charity that should be featured, contact Lexi Cortes at acortes@bnd.com.

Return to bnd.com/living/helping-others to see the latest featured nonprofit. The following are all of the charities and fundraisers that have been featured in 2016 so far:

▪ Operation Homefront’s annual Holiday Toy Drive

▪ Hospice of Southern Illinois Inc.

▪ Caritas Family Solutions

▪ Fire Truck O’ Toys

▪ Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois

▪ Belleville Kiwanis Club Christmas Tree Lot

▪ Faith in Action to Serve and Transform

▪ Bethany Place

▪ AgeSmart Community Resources

▪ Make a Change

▪ The Metro East Humane Society

▪ Soup-n-Share Outreach Program