Cottons for Christmas fund drive is underway

RUSSELLVILLE – The Franklin County Women’s Leadership Committee, a division of the ALFA Farmers Federation, is collecting new adult socks for nursing home residents through its annual Cottons for Christmas drive.

Donations, which will be accepted through Nov. 20, can be dropped off at the Franklin County Extension Office, the ALFA office in Russellville, or the ALFA office in Red Bay.

A donation box will also be available during the Farm-City Banquet on Nov. 20 at the A.W. Todd Centre.

Committee member Carol Glass said the group has organized the project for more than a decade, focusing on spreading comfort and care to those who might otherwise be overlooked.

“It helps the people in the nursing home,” Glass said. “Some of them have no family. We get names of those residents and make sure they have something extra to open at Christmas.”

Glass said there are four nursing homes in Franklin County, and the committee rotates each year to serve a different one. This year’s donations will go to Burns Nursing Home in Russellville. Last year, the group provided gifts for residents at Generations of Red Bay.

“We talk to the nursing home about the patients that don’t have anybody, about what they need, and we try to take care of some of those needs. Everybody has a different need,” she said. “Some are bedbound and others are out and about. We just try to brighten up Christmas for them a little bit. We try to be a blessing, but we also wind up getting the blessing of helping.”

Glass said community members have always shown generosity toward the project.

“We’ve had great support in years past from the community, and it’s been much appreciated, and we hope to be able to continue this for years to come,” she said.