JOPLIN, Mo. — There is no 24/7 Christmas music radio station any longer in Joplin! So years ago we created Joplin News First ‘Joplin Christmas Radio’ on Spotify.
Tag Archives: Christmas
Benefits of recycling live Christmas trees
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Christmas is over and many may be wondering what to do with your live Christmas tree.
The owner of Bridgestone Christmas Tree Farm in Webb City says recycling a Christmas tree is the best option.
They recommend taking down your tree before New Year’s because the trees dry out and stop drinking water.
“We like to tell people if you are not going to take it to the designated spot, there are people who want those trees. They either use them for habitat restorations; there’s different things you can do. A lot of people put them in ponds and lakes for fish habitat. A lot of people put them out in the woods for rabbits and quail and stuff like that. Believe it or not there are goat farmers, they want the Christmas trees. Because believe I guess the goats really do love Christmas trees, not for decorating but for eating,” said Andy Johnson, Owner Operator of Bridgestone Christmas Tree Farm.
The farm does not recycle used Christmas trees, but they recommend dropping them off to a city that will recycle them.
Before you drop off your Christmas tree to a recycling site, make sure to take off all ornaments and decorations.
Crisis center is feeding families in need
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage Crisis Center is making the holidays brighter for families.
Saturday morning the transitional home fed the community for its annual Christmas dinner.
“The vast majority of the people we serve are elderly they just cant get out. There are a few families that cant afford anything and so we are happy to supply everything they need for a wonderful Christmas dinner,” said Jim Benton, Carthage Crisis Center Executive Director.
The Carthage Crisis Center is making sure no one goes without on Christmas.
More than 50 volunteers and missionary members spent the morning cooking, packing and distributing 250 meals.
“It feels amazing. honestly its a good feeling. Serving people and bringing joy is one of the best things you can do,” said Marcus Anderson, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
This is the second Christmas the center has delivered meals to families because of the pandemic.
“The holidays can be very lonely for people and just to have another smiling face is one of the most important things that we can have.” said Benton.
Volunteers split up 14 routes to deliver meals throughout Jasper and Newton county.
“A lot of families make this a family tradition. It’s wonderful we’ve seen them year after year that they give up their Christmas morning so others can benefit. It’s great I love our volunteers.”
Once the meals were delivered the center fed its 22 residents.
“We are a crisis center so people come to us because they are in difficult positions. When we had a Christmas Eve last night and they were talking about how wonderful it was. No one plans to be in a homeless shelter on Christmas, and so we make it a party,” said Benton.
Ways to cope with holiday stress
WEBB CITY, Mo. — The holiday season is a joyful time for many — but for others, not so much. And counselors say they are seeing more people reaching out for help during the holidays
The pressure to plan the perfect holiday or fear over the pandemic could be a source of stress.
“The holidays bring up grief and missing people or missing how life used to be,” said Travis Bolin, a counselor with Mt. Hope Church of Christ.
Mount Hope Christian Counseling Center in Webb City is seeing an uptick in people using its service during the holidays.
“They’re stressed about seeing people over the holidays or they have too much to do and not enough time.”
Bolin says once clients identify triggers they can then work on alleviating stress.
“Sometimes stress is brought on by the person and its not really the situation its the person theirself that’s causing that stress. So I say come up with a plan write it down, and go with it. Because its Christmas and the holiday season should be enjoyable and not a stressful time.”
Some of the holiday anxiety can come from wanting to plan the perfect holiday.
“There’s no such thing as perfection. I say go do your best, plan your best, invite your family and friends over and enjoy your time with your time with your family and friends. Its truly about making time for your time with your family and friends. Its not about who am I going to impress or what am I going to make perfect. Or I want this to be the best Christmas ever. Its really the quality time.”
Bolin suggests coping with anxiety can be as simple as leaving a crowded room for a few minutes to destress.
“I use positive self talk where I talk to myself in a positive way. Saying its okay you can do this. Its just for a few more hours, few more minutes its okay you can get through this,” said Bolin.
Another way to beat the holiday blues is by talking to family and friends.
To make an appointment for counseling you can follow this link.
Nursing home offers sleigh rides for patients
NEOSHO, Mo. — A nursing home is lifting patients spirits ahead of Christmas.
This morning, Medicalodges Neosho held a sleigh ride for its patients and their families.
The nursing home teamed up with Phoenix Homecare and Hospice to offer sleigh rides, a bounce house, food truck and popcorn for families.
“We just wanted to spread some holiday cheer and enjoy the community,” said Activities Director at Medicalodges Neosho, Rebecca Moore.
“I love seeing families come together and I think its fantastic for the people who this is their home is to get to participate in an event that otherwise they may not be able to because they cant leave,” said Nicole Watson, a Clinical Nurse Consultant for Phoenix Homecare & Hospice.
Medicalodges Neosho hopes to hold more fun events for residents in the future.
Joplin High School is in need of food donations for Christmas baskets
JOPLIN, Mo. — Joplin High School could use some help with its annual Christmas food basket program.
Officials say they’re in need of turkeys, hams and canned foods.
Next week, they’ll prepare the food baskets and then give them to 15 families of high school students as a way to help them over the holiday break.
“With the rate of poverty that we have in Joplin anyway there’s always families in need of extra help especially around the holidays. Its that business of providing for your family and not only making it the best that you can,” said Dr. Stephen Gilbreth, Joplin High School Principal.
Donations can be dropped off at the high school through Friday.
Joplin High School is hosting a gift wrapping fundraiser
JOPLIN, Mo. — Joplin High School is helping families get ready for Christmas.
This week, the school is hosting its first holiday gift wrapping fundraiser inside the Performing Arts Center.
The money raised will help four different organizations, and will help pay for Christmas baskets and other charity programs.
“Wednesday night will be peer buddies. They help some of the special needs kids in the building and do different fun activities. Thursday evening a group from Roi S. Wood the alternative campus will be here and they will be giftwrapping as a fundraiser for their group,” said Dr. Stephen Gilbreth, Joplin High School Principal.
The gift wrapping and boxes range in cost from $1 to $5.
The fundraiser runs from 5p.m. to 7p.m. every night through Thursday.
Boy Scouts are packing meals for families in need
JOPLIN, Mo. — Three local Boy Scouts are feeding hungry families for their “Eagle Service Project.”
Sunday afternoon scouts and dozens of volunteers were at McAuley High School packing meals for Outreach House of Joplin.
Each Boy Scout raised one-thousand-dollars to purchase three meal kits that will feed 6,000 people.
They had three stations setup inside the multipurpose room with teams assembling the minestrone soup, Spanish rice and macaroni and cheese.
The scouts decided on this project because Outreach House will be closing its kitchen for two weeks during Christmas break.
“So all of these families that rely on these meals they don’t get them. And so what we are going to do is all these meals we are making during those two weeks they are shut down we will be giving those meals out so its offsetting hunger,” said Phillip Motazedi, Boy Scout.
“I was surprised everyone was so generous with their donations and I’m really grateful for them,” Drew Zeb, Boy Scout.
“It feels great. Earlier today I was kind of worried that a lot of people would show up. But seeing everyone coming together it was really heartwarming.” David Ndukwu, Boy Scout.
They will donate the food packages later this month.
Lafayette House is giving back to its supporters
JOPLIN, Mo. — Lafayette House is giving back to its supporters throughout December.
Anyone who gives a monetary donation will get a hand drawn Christmas ornament from one of the children staying at the facility.
Lafayette house provides women and children, who are experiencing domestic violence or substance abuse, a safe place to stay.
The shelter serves more than one-thousand people a year.
“The kids think its really special because they get to see their artwork on a professionally made ornament, which is cool for them. But we try to involve especially the kids in our daycare in several ways they are making table decorations for our staff luncheon in December. It’s just a fun way to get their artwork kind of distributed,” said Louise Secker, Lafayette House Development Director.
The monetary donations will go towards the shelter’s operating expenses.
The Salvation Army Angel Tree is in need of sponsors
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Time is running out to grant a local child’s wish this holiday season.
The “Carthage Area United Way” is hosting the Salvation Army Angel Tree.
There are 50 local children who want clothes, coats and toys this Christmas.
Anyone wanting to grant a wish can go to the United Way during business hours and select a wish off the tree.
“I just think it creates a personal connection with your heart to that young child’s heart. They were able to express their need and express their wish. And its just part of the giving season to give back and keep that local as well,” said Della Croft, Executive Director of the Carthage Area United Way.
Presents must be dropped off by December 15.
To adopt a child through the Carthage Area United Way email them at office@carthageuw.org.