Around Oakley: Community groups ready for holiday season

HARD TO BELIEVE but now that Thanksgiving is past, it is less than a month until Christmas. Oakley is just like other communities gearing up for the big day with local groups and organizations working on raising money and promoting their activities during the holidays.
Keep in mind before running out and buying your Christmas trees that the Oakley Boy Scout Troop 152 once again will be hosting a Christmas tree lot behind Scheer Home Systems downtown.
It will feature fresh-cut Noble and Douglas fir Trees from Washington, as well as wreaths and garland. Scheer Home Systems is located at 3460 Main St., across from O'Hara Avenue. The trees will be on sale starting today. The Scouts are providing local delivery to both homes and businesses. For more information, call 625-5391.
In other holiday news, Oakley is preparing for its annual tree-lighting ceremony, set for Saturday, Dec. 5. Remember that the annual event has been moved to the City Hall offices at 3231 Main St.
The festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with free refreshments, arts and crafts, performances by the Freedom High School choir and the Oakley Union Elementary School District chorus.
Santa will be on hand for photos, so don't forget to bring your own cameras. Those attending can also join in singing Christmas carols and watch the lighting of a 30-foot grand Christmas tree. For information, call 925-625-7041 or coelho@ci.oakley.ca.us.
Many local and statewide food banks are reporting that this is going to be a rough holiday season for donations to help the needy. They are asking for any help community residents can offer. That includes donation of even the smallest amount of canned or dry foods.
Last year, the Friends of Oakley started the city's first official Christmas Basket program for needy families. Last year, the Brentwood Regional Community Chest was instrumental in helping Oakley form its own group.
The Community Chest gave financial support to get the program off the ground. It allowed the Friends of Oakley to help 125 families by providing them with holiday meal fixings, canned foods and wrapped gifts.
This year the group is hoping to provide 250 families with support in the same way. According to organizer Pat Anderson, it has doubled the number of families it will serve as the need for food on the table is ever greater within our community, not only from the displacement of families but from families whose ability to provide is greatly constricted in this challenging economy.
If donations allow, it plans to reach out further into the senior community and provide holiday meals.
Funding for the Oakley Christmas Basket program will come from proceeds from fundraising efforts, local businesses and service provider contributions. Its budget is $10,000, and the group reports that it is halfway there.
Local schools and businesses will host donation barrels with signs that read "Friends of Oakley — Toys for Oakley Families and Friends of Oakley — Food for Oakley Families," which will accept nonperishable boxed or canned foods and toys.
Friends of Oakley is a community foundation that returns 100 percent of the toys and food goods donated to registered families in the city that are in need.
To help the group, look around for one of its barrels and make a donation or check out its Web site at friendsofoakley.webs.com for more information.