NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 1998

TOWN STAFF PLAN "CHRISTMAS IN JULY" FOR LOCAL SHELTER

CARY -- The Town of Cary’s "Helping Hands" committee is inviting citizens to participate in its first "Christmas in July" collection drive to benefit Interact, a non-profit community shelter for women and children. Throughout July, Town employees and interested citizens can drop off household and personal items as well as non-perishable food at any one of several barrels located in Town buildings.

"A project at this time of year is new for the committee," said Helping Hands volunteer Terry Scott. Helping Hands typically does a collection during the holiday season along with the adoption of families. While response to the family adoption is very good, the collection of necessity items is not. "People may be a little overwhelmed by requests during the holidays, and since the Interact shelter pantry needs to be restocked at mid-year, the committee thought that adding a summer collection effort would be well-received by the community," Scott added.

Collection items most needed by Interact include:

• Kleenex, Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Dishwasher Detergent
• Cereals, Pancake and Muffin Mixes
• Coffee, Fruit Juices, Kool-Aid
• Ketchup, Salad Dressing
• Soups as well as Other Canned and Non-perishable Foods
• African American Hair Care Products and Make-up
• Other Toiletries

For more information contact the Town of Cary at 460-4930.

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PRIMARY CONTACTS: Terry Scott, Engineering Tech., 460-4930
Marie French, Interact, 828-7501
Bill Coleman, Town Manager, 469-4002
Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, 460-4951

www.ci.cary.nc.us