A Silver Dollar to those who help

The Nevada Appeal's "Silver Dollar" and "Wooden Nickel" feature recognizes positive achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out others that missed the mark.

Silver dollar: This week, we are dedicating all our silver dollars, and hopefully encourage you to chip in a few as well, to the many local organizations that are working so hard to assure a happy holiday for Carson City's many struggling families.

"It is more extreme out there this year than I've ever seen it," said Joyce Buckingham, executive director of the Ron Wood Family Resource Center.

"Between September and October we were up from feeding 2,000 people a month to about 2,700, and we're not seeing an end to it," Buckingham said. "Our needs have doubled this year over last year, and donations are down."

The same scenario is playing out at FISH, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Carson City's "Christmas with a Cop" program - dozens of organizations that rely on charitable giving to help others are seeing more need, and fewer donations.

So if you can spare anything, even a dollar, or a can of food, we ask that you do so for one of these organizations:

• Friends In Service Helping: Cash and food donations are needed to help families throughout the holidays and beyond. Call 882-3474 or go to 138 E. Long St.

• Ron Wood Family Resource Center: Cash and food donations are needed to help families throughout the holidays and beyond. Call 884-2269 or go to the resource center at 212 E. Winnie Lane.

• Salvation Army: Cash and food donations can be made to the Salvation Army, 661 Colorado St. Call 887-9120.

• Toys and Gifts: A toy drive for the Silver City, Mound House, Dayton and Mark Twain areas is organized by Community Roots and the Healthy Communities Coalition this year. To help, call 246-7550.

There are so many more - too many to list here. The Nevada Appeal has a list on its Web site, nevadaappeal.com/helping. To add your group or organization's charitable efforts and needs, e-mail the information to editor@nevadaappeal.com.