Christmas in May

WOOD TV8, Spartan Stores, and local businesses around West Michigan are hauling out Christmas trees for a new season of giving this May. WOOD TV8 and Spartan Stores have partnered in a community-wide initiative to help struggling families make ends meet during these challenging economic times. “Your Money. Your Neighbor. Christmas in May.” is a new program designed to supply West Michigan families with everyday items that aren’t always available at food pantries and can’t be purchased with food stamps.

Starting May 4 – May 20, 2009, WOOD TV8, Spartan Stores, and local businesses are proudly displaying Christmas trees and need help to stock those trees with eight essential items that include:

• toilet paper
• toothbrush and toothpaste
• deodorant
• shampoo and conditioner
• bar soap
• dish soap
• laundry detergent
• diapers

Each Christmas tree will be covered with gift tags that include a list of suggested donations. Community members are encouraged to purchase any of the items listed, and return those items with the gift tag to any participating location.

On Wednesday, May 20, 2009 24 Hour News 8 will provide live broadcasts on 24 Hour News 8, WOTV4 and woodtv.com throughout the day as donations are brought to area Spartan stores from 11:00am- 7:00pm. The goal is to collect 25 tons of dry goods. All of the donations collected will stay within the community they were collected in and be distributed to area food pantries.

Cutlerville Family Fare
701 68th St, SW
Byron Center

Portage D&W Fresh Market
525 Romence
Portage

Muskegon Plumb's
1663 W Sherman St.
Muskegon

Cedar Springs Family Fare
4175 17 Mile Rd.
Cedar Springs

Grand Rapids Family Fare - Leonard & Fuller
1225 Leonard, NE
Grand Rapids

Holland Family Fare
1185 S. Washington
Holland

The “Your Money. Your Neighbor. Christmas in May.” program is part of the station wide “Your Money” Initiative that began in March 2009. WOOD/WOTV/WXSP-TV are dedicated connecting viewers to local experts, answers and resources during these uncertain economic times. The “Your Money” initiative includes: “Your Money. Your Questions.” a 24 Hour News 8 continuing series which helps get answers to viewers financial questions, “Your Money. Your Neighbor.” a community action program that helps serve the needs of local organizations and communities, and the “Your Money” section of woodtv.com which serves as a vital online tool connecting viewers to jobs and training, savings, and financial resources.