From staff reports

The Vicksburg Post will publish acts of benevolence by local organizations throughout December. Submit items by e-mail (newsreleases@vicksburgpost.com), postal service (P.O. Box 821668, Vicksburg, MS 39182), fax (634-0897), or in person to 1601-F N. Frontage Road.

Vicksburg Homecoming Benevolent Club

As one of its yearly holiday projects, the VHBC prepared Thanksgiving baskets for needy families. Names were submitted to the club, and baskets were filled with turkey, cake mix, stuffing, potatoes and canned vegetables. VHBC is a nonprofit organization that helps the needy through financial assistance, utility assistance and scholarships.

Mississippi Department of Transportation

Employees of MDOT provided Thanksgiving food to about 50 families across the state through the International Basket Brigade, a charitable program founded more than 30 years ago.

MDOT Conference and Events Manager Charlie Robinson coordinates the effort. He hopes to increase the number to 500 next year. “I realize that going from 50 to 500 baskets is a big jump and a lofty goal, but I believe we can do it.”

Jennifer Arnold of the Vicksburg office coordinated local efforts. “We delivered our canned goods to our local soup kitchen, which fed more than 100 people on Thanksgiving Day. Our prepared meals went to our local women’s shelter, which fed 30 people that day.”

Mississippi College

Randy Jolly of Vicksburg played Santa Claus during a Christmas dinner for the homeless at Mississippi College Wednesday.

Jolly is a former Warren Central High School art teacher and is the current director of MC’s Gore Galleries.

Forty-two people, including 19 children, from the Wingard Home in Jackson attended the dinner. It was the third year the MC Department of Art and students from the Kappa Pi art honorary organization had combined to assist with the project.