What organizers hope will become a new local Christmas tradition is scheduled this weekend in downtown Greenville. The “Spirit of Giving” is being presented by the Greenville Lions Club, starting at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Farmers Market downtown.
During the event the Farmer’s Market will be transformed into a group of “stations” where volunteers will give away everything from toys and canned goods to coats, shoes, blankets, cookies, concessions and more.
The event is based on a ministry begun in 2007 by Mike Woods of Paris. During the first year there were some two dozen volunteers and one church who assisted about 600 people.
Last year, the “Spirit of Giving” in Paris provided assistance to more than 3,000 people through 15 churches and more than 300 volunteers.
In addition to Paris and Greenville, Spirit of Giving events are also planned this year in Cooper, Trenton and at two locations in Oklahoma.
As of the beginning of the week, the Greenville Lions Club reported it has received donations of approximately 2000 toys, as well as appliances, computer desks, clothes, bikes and more.