Advent Calendar : Charitible / Volunteer Work

Did your family ever volunteer with a charity such as a soup kitchen, homeless or battered women’s shelter during the holidays? Or perhaps were your ancestors involved with church groups that assisted others during the holiday?


I'm not aware of my ancestors' activities regarding charitable work during the Christmas holiday.
Growing up, I do not remember any specific activity directly tied to Christmas.


As an adult, our family has been involved with one small endeavor during Christmas-time, and that is Operation Christmas Child. Eileen helped to spearhead the collection of items and we all helped with the packaging and deliver of the shoeboxes to the drop-off site. We became involved with this organization several years ago, when we members of a small United Methodist Church. After we switched churches and denominations to the larger Southern Baptist mega-church, we continued to be a part of the organization and distribution of the shoeboxes. Sad to say, the participation rate and output was greater in the smaller church (30 or so in attendance) than in the mega-church (nearly 1000 attendees).


For the past few Christmases, we have been church-homeless, and I admit that I miss participating in this project. I know that I don't have to be tied into a church to participate, but somehow, it has fallen to the wayside.

Sunday's Obituary: Ardis E. Bickel (1931-1996)

Source: Ardis E. Bickel obituary, Anderson Herald-Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana, June 22, 1996

Ardis Ellen (LeMaster) Bickel, 65, Anderson, died June 20, 1996, at Community Hospital after an extended illness.

She was born Jan. 20, 1931, in Cowan, and lived in Anderson since 1953.  She was a homemaker.

She was a member of Vermillion Christian Church and Ladies Aid Society of the church.  She was a 1949 graduate of Madison Township High School.

Survivors include her husband of 45 years, Ralph Bickel Jr. of Anderson, two sons, Richard Bickel and Randall (wife, Theresa) Bickel, all of Anderson; two daughters and son-in-law, Barbara and Lonnie Short of Anderson and Carolyn Bickel of Greenwood; two sisters, Mrs. Gail (Gerry) Stoner of Troy, Ohio, and Mrs. Phillip (Ann) Monger of Hagerstown; nine grandchildren, Andrew Bagienski, Joshua R. Bickel, B. Keith Bickel, Autumn Ellen Short, Lonnita Short, Lori Waddey, Tara DeWeese, Nickelette Short and Lonnie L. Short II; three great-grandchildren, Jennifer Waddey, Joni Waddey and Brianna DeWeese; and two sisters-in-law, Helen LeMaster and Mrs. Walter (Wanda) Morhous, both of Portland.

She was preceded in death by three brothers.

Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service with Keith Creamer of Vermillion Christian Church officiating.  Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Salamonie [sic] Cemetery in Salamonia.

Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Vermillion Christian Church.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Christmas Program: Ft. Recovery Church of the Nazarene, 1949

You and your friends are cordially invited to the Christmas program at church


"Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift." - 2 Cor. 9:15


Date: December 23, 1949 at 7:30 o'clock.


Place: Church of the Nazarene Ft. Recovery, Ohio


Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Stuber
Ft. Recovery, Ohio
R.R. 3


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This invitation postcard was postmarked December 20, 1949 at Ft. Recovery, Ohio and was sent to my paternal great-grandaunt & uncle, Clarence and Vera (HALEY) STUBER.