Community Corner

'Operation: Ornament' Aims to Spread Christmas Cheer

The drive to collect ornaments, lights and trees for Metro Detroit families in need kicks off today and runs through Dec. 7, with a wrap party Dec. 8 at Lola Salon in Pleasant Ridge.

What fun is Christmas without a few glittery and shiny baubles to create a festive ambiance?

Not much if you ask the ladies behind "Operation: Ornament," a holiday drive to collect ornaments, lights and trees for families in need that kicks off today and runs through Dec. 7, with a wrap party Dec. 8.

Organizer Cindy Jacobs of Royal Oak said she got the idea for the drive while cleaning out her house and lugging some old ornaments toward the trash.

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"I was thinking, 'man, I love these ornaments. Maybe I'll just hold an ornament drive,' " said Jacobs, who is Jewish. "I thought, my mom would not approve knowing I was going to throw them out because Christmas was very secular in our house."

So, Jacobs proposed the idea of an ornament drive to her friend Lola Woods, owner of Lola Salon in Pleasant Ridge.

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"She's a super festive and giving person, so it's not hard to strong arm her," Jacobs joked about Woods, whose salon will serve as the drop-off point for "Operation: Ornament."

Those who would like to donate to the drive can drop off new or gently used ornaments, working lights and faux Christmas trees at Lola Salon through Dec. 7.

"It shouldn't be something you wouldn't want to put up," Jacobs said, adding that lights should be neatly coiled, ornaments can be loose or packaged, and trees should be in a stand or – better yet – in a box.

Volunteers are invited to participate in a "Sip, Sort & Celebrate" event from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Dec. 8, during which treats will be served and the holiday goodies will be packaged and prepared for distribution. Then, Detroit-based nonprofit Focus: HOPE will distribute the decorations to Metro Detroit families that participate in its food program.

Each family will receive two or three strands of lights and three to four dozen ornaments, Jacobs said, adding that the number of families who receive the holiday packages will depend on how many decorations and trees are donated.

"Operation: Ornament" already has collected approximately 20 live trees from Matthes Evergreen Farm in Ida, MI, and Candy Cane Christmas Tree Farm in Oxford, she said.

"With the exception of kids, if I had the choice between getting my house decorated for the season or having gifts, I'd choose to have my house decorated," Woods said. "It just sets the tone, even during hard times.

"We're super excited," she said. "It's getting me in the spirit, too."

Jacobs agreed: "Just generally speaking, glittery and shiny things make people happy. So, this is a cheap way to spread happiness."

'Operation: Ornament'

When: Donations accepted through Dec. 7; "Sip, Sort & Celebrate" event from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Dec. 8

Where: Lola Salon, 23908 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge

Why go: Spread holiday cheer and clean out your extra Christmas decorations.

Cost: Free

What else: Suggested drop-off times are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday (except Nov. 23 through Nov. 26). "If you can't make it during posted hours, call 248-399-0104 and we can make other arrangements," Woods said. E-mail Cindy Jacobs for more information.


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