Help the Angel Tree Project Provide Christmas Gifts for 329 Children

November 26, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The 30th annual Angel Tree Project is underway and your support is needed to help make this holiday season merrier for 329 children.

Laura Stone said Angel Trees are located at all bank locations in Smithville and Alexandria. Each Angel represents a child and his or her wish list for Christmas. Select an Angel from the tree, buy a gift for the child, and return the gift to the bank where you picked up the Angel by Friday, December 6.

“This is our 30th year serving children 12 and younger living in DeKalb County. Angel cards are on trees in the local banks. People of the community can pick up an Angel and buy for a child. The wish list on the Angels is just a suggestion. It is what the child specifically asked for. Sometimes people will buy only what is on there. In some cases they will buy additional things. It’s not necessary that you buy everything on the list. We need the gifts back by December 6. It is your choice if you want to wrap the gifts,” said Stone.

“It is hard for me to believe sometimes but this is our 30th year! I have been part of the program the entire time and I have seen a lot of faces grow up in the program. What warms my heart are those children who benefited from the Angel Tree when they were young. They are now adults and know the positive impact it had on their lives and will now support the Angel Tree and adopt angels themselves.”

Please consider adopting an Angel today or if you have no time to shop, donations can be made at Wilson Bank or any Smithville or Alexandria bank branch and the Volunteers will do the shopping for you.

November 26, 2024
By: Bill Conger

One thousand six hundred fifty-five boxes were collected in DeKalb County for Operation Christmas Child. That’s 91 more than was donated last year. DeKalb County Drop Off Team Leader Beth Gill says it’s not too late for people to make a shoebox online. Her husband Darrell Gill, Cliff Smith, and Eric Drennan took the boxes to First Baptist in McMinnville to load into tractor trailers that will go to Samaritan’s Purse in Boone, North Carolina.

OCC collects shoebox gifts with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items to deliver to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 220 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 170 countries and territories.

Several churches in DeKalb donated to the cause including Calvary Baptist, Faith Baptist, Elizabeth Chapel Baptist, Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian, Alexandria First Baptist Church, Allen’s Chapel, Buckner’s Chapel, Dry Creek Baptist, Indian Creek Baptist, Whorton Springs Baptist, Upper Helton Baptist, Smithville First Baptist, West Main Baptist, Memorial Baptist, and New Hope Baptist, along with individuals all donated to the cause.

Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian donated the most shoeboxes from their drive this year with 316 followed by Indian Creek Baptist with 270 and First Baptist Alexandria with 200.

“I hope to get more churches involved next year,” Gill said. “Each shoebox means a child will learn about Jesus.”

Over 40.5 million children who received shoeboxes participated in a 12-lesson discipleship course, The Greatest Journey. About half that number made decisions for Christ.

People who would still like to participate in Operation Christmas Child may do so online. For more information, go to this link, https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/buildonline.

“I want to thank all who donated their time in volunteering and those who made shoeboxes so that this is possible to reach these children.”

November 25, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County and its solid waste operation is stepping up recycling efforts while partnering with America’s Thrift store to accept gently used clothing, toys, furniture, household goods and more in support of six charities whose mission is to improve the lives of children with critical illnesses and those affected by addition. America’s Thrift Store charity partners include Make-A-Wish Alabama, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Home of Grace, Adult & Teen Challenge Mid-South, Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee, and Louisiana Adult & Teen Challenge.

“I am very pleased to see the hard efforts that Brian Reed, DeKalb County’s new Public Works Director (formerly Solid Waste Director), has engaged in since taking on this new role. Director Reed’s ambition to go above and beyond has really shown in recent events and in the changes to our convenience sites,” said County Mayor Matt Adcock. “ You may have noticed the recycling bins that have popped up throughout the county. Thanks to Brian, DeKalb County is participating with the America’s Thrift Store to benefit multiple charities,” he said.

“Director Reed has also applied and been approved for a grant to obtain a cardboard bailer, and necessary material for its operation. This grant means DeKalb County will soon start participating in cardboard recycling, which will most likely take place at the transfer station given its centrally located position. The bailer will be housed at the transfer station and the collection bins will be at selected convenience sites. This will also create a new revenue stream for DeKalb County,” said County Mayor Adcock.

“All involved with the DeKalb County Solid Waste operation have been working to increase the recycling rate for the county,” said Public Works Director Reed. “This focus has been the result of feedback from the community, primarily concerning cardboard, textiles, electronics, oil-based paints, and putting the woodchipper back to use. The county commission approved the money to apply for a grant, with a 30% match from the county to purchase a downstroke baler, and skid steer to kickstart cardboard recycling,” explained Reed. “The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has awarded DeKalb County that grant, and we are currently waiting on paperwork from TDEC so we can begin the process of obtaining equipment. In the meantime, we have containers at Snow Hill and Shiny Rock Convenience Centers for cardboard collection,” said Reed.

“We have also partnered with America’s Thrift Stores to collect textiles and other usable household items. These collection bins have been placed at the following convenience centers: Village Market (Cookeville Hwy), Snow Hill, Shiny Rock (McMinnville Hwy), Keltonburg, Alexandria, and the Landfill. Donations from our community will help benefit Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee. A more comprehensive list of items that are accepted is below and can also be found at https://www.americasthrift.com/donations/. America’s Thrift Stores offers this service at no cost to the county,” he explained.

“The brush chipper that we have is now being utilized at the transfer station and instead of sending brush to the landfill we will now be able to chip it up into mulch. I have been in contact with TDEC and had them deliver containers to the Shiny Rock Convenience Center for collection of Oil Based Paints and Stains, which is a service that TDEC offers for no fee. Electronics can be dropped off at the Snow Hill facility for recycling. I am hopeful that DeKalb County will be able to host a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event in the spring of 2025. TDEC will continue to support this effort as long as we offer year-round collection of Oil based paints and stains as well as electronics recycling.”

America’s Thrift Store Accepted Items
• If you wear it, we want it!
• Men’s, Women’s, Children’s Clothing
• Men’s, Women’s, Children’s Shoes
• Lingerie, Underwear & Socks
• Accessories such as: Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Ties, Purses, Wallets, Backpacks, Belts
• Bed sheets, blankets, pillows, curtains, tablecloths, and similar items
• Bath towels, hand towels, wash cloths, bath rugs
• Sports equipment, exercise equipment, bicycles
• Kitchenware such as pots, pans, utensils, china, vases, dishes, cutlery, glassware, silverware
• Working washers/dryers that are disconnected and must be placed outside on the lowest level for easy retrieval
• Small electrical appliances such as power tools, irons, blenders, mixers, stereos, CD players, speakers, DVD players & VCRs, lamps, fans, humidifiers
• Miscellaneous Items such as jewelry, crafts, mugs, candles, pictures/frames, baskets, ornaments, hand tools
• Hardback and paperback books
• Magazines
• Records, tapes, CDs
• Videos, DVDs, Blu-rays
• Toys, games, and puzzles
• Music Keyboards

Convenience Center Recycling Services
Village Market (Cookeville Hwy/Allens Ferry Rd)
• Metal
• Used Oil and Antifreeze
• America’s Thrift Store Items

Snow Hill
• Metal
• Used Oil and Antifreeze
• America’s Thrift Store Items
• Tires (4Tires every 6 Months per Individual)
• Cardboard
• Electronics

Shiny Rock
• Metal
• Used Oil and Antifreeze
• America’s Thrift Store Items
• Tires (4Tires every 6 Months per Individual)
• Cardboard

Alexandria
• Metal
• Used Oil and Antifreeze
• America’s Thrift Store Items
• Tires (4Tires every 6 Months per Individual)

Liberty
• Metal
• Used Oil and Antifreeze
• Tires (4Tires every 6 Months per Individual)

Keltonburg
• Metal
• Used Oil and Antifreeze
• America’s Thrift Store Items
• Tires (4Tires every 6 Months per Individual)

Landfill
• Metal
• Used Oil and Antifreeze
• America’s Thrift Store Items
• Tires (4Tires every 6 Months per Individual)

Midway
• Metal
• Used Oil and Antifreeze
• Tires (4Tires every 6 Months per Individual)

Blue Springs
• Metal
• Tires (4Tires every 6 Months per Individual)

“I hope to be able to continue to incorporate more recycling options for the citizens as my service here continues. I do ask for your continued help in using the compactors at the sites where they are available as that helps me be able to reduce the operation cost significantly. Thanks to all for the support as changes have been made at the sites to better serve you,” said Director Reed.

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