The Community Project Steps Up to Keep Christmas Magic Alive

For as long as many of us can remember, SIEOC has led the Marine’s Toys for

Tots campaign here in southeastern Indiana. Through toy drives, generous monetary donations, and families adopting families, they’ve helped bring the magic of Christmas to countless local children.

But this year, with budget cuts and uncertainty about the future, SIEOC realized they were no longer in a position to continue leading the campaign. That’s when Kimberly Henry, Family Development Coordinator & CKF/SIEOC Coalition Director, reached out to The Community Project to see if we might be willing to take the reins.

With no other options and knowing how many families rely on this program, we didn’t hesitate — we said yes. Too many local families need a hand up right now, and we weren’t about to let that Christmas magic fade away.

While we made the decision not to formally partner with the Marine’s Toys for Tots program this year, we wanted to continue its mission in a way that’s tailored specifically to the needs of our own community. That’s how The Christmas Project was born.

Thankfully, SIEOC graciously agreed to stay involved and continue managing the application process — an enormous relief and blessing to our team! Together, we’re committed to providing Christmas joy to families in both Dearborn and Ohio Counties.

Because when our community comes together — anything is possible. ❤️

Overcoming Hurdles, One Blessing at a Time

Our first challenge was space. We needed somewhere big enough to organize and distribute gifts. That’s when Greendale Police Chief Shane Slack stepped up in a big way, offering the use of the Greendale Police Department’s garage. One hurdle down!

Next up: collection barrels. We needed around 75 barrels for our toy drives. Buying them outright would’ve been expensive, so we started brainstorming creative solutions. That’s when our friends at JTM Food Group in Harrison, Ohio, came through in the most generous way — offering us 75 empty barrels to use, free of charge, as long as we picked them up.

Without hesitation, Austin Corns volunteered his flatbed trailer and made the trip to Harrison, hauling all 75 barrels back to Greendale. Once the barrels arrived, we needed to make sure everyone knew what they were for — so we designed custom decals, printed by Signarama, and Ben Lorey spent an entire weekend labeling each one. It was no small task, but the barrels turned out amazing!

The Power of Community: Sycamore Gas Company

Of course, the next big challenge was delivering all those barrels to local businesses — from St. Leon to Dillsboro and everywhere in between. None of our board members owned a truck or trailer, but once again, the community stepped in.

Our friends at Sycamore Gas Company had recently reached out looking for new ways to get involved locally. After a wonderful conversation with Pam McAllister and Debbie Ridgeway about The Community Project and our many initiatives, they offered the perfect solution:

They volunteered two days, two trucks, and four employees to deliver all of our barrels across the county!

On Monday, September 29th, Sycamore’s Billy Messerschmidt and Chris Hountz delivered the first round of barrels. The next day, Tuesday, September 30th, Nick Buchanan, Mike Marcotte, and Pam McAllister joined in on the fun for round two.

Thanks to their hard work and generosity, 50 barrels were delivered to our community partners — and the feedback was incredible. Many businesses shared how kind, professional, and enthusiastic the Sycamore team was throughout the process.

We were also thrilled to see Sycamore Gas Company recently recognized with the 2025 Dearborn County Young Professionals Award for their outstanding community involvement. What a well-deserved honor!

How to Apply for The Christmas Project

SIEOC is now accepting applications for this year’s Christmas Project. Parents or legal guardians of children in need of Christmas assistance can apply in person during walk-in registration at:

📍 SIEOC – 110 Importing Street, Aurora, IN 47001

🗓️ Walk-In Registration Hours:

• Tuesdays: 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM

• Wednesdays: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

• Thursdays: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

• 
  

Registration opens Tuesday, October 28th and continues through Thursday, December 4th, 2025 (or until all spots are filled). Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

📞 For more information, contact SIEOC at (812) 926-1585 or 1-888-292-5475 (toll-free).

How You Can Help

We’ll soon be sharing a full list of community partners and donation sites where you can drop off new, unwrapped toys for families in need.

Follow The Community Project on Facebook and visit our website for updates on:🎁 Drop-off locations🤝 Community sponsors🎄 Upcoming events that support The Christmas Project

Together, we can ensure that every child in our community feels the joy and love of Christmas morning.

Because when a community unites in kindness, miracles happen. ✨