Around gilbert & summit

Give the gift of sponsorship this Christmas for an animal at Cotton Branch Animal Sanctuary. A new addition to the farm is Lucy, a Pot Bellied pig who was recently rescued.

Lucy came to the farm after social setbacks with people and the other animals due to her unhappy, abusive environment. CBAS says she is now adapting well and making new piggy friends. Lucy is available for sponsorship for $25 a month.

CBAS’s monthly partners are the lifeblood of the farm and provide the animals with a proper diet, housing, vet care and a happy, healthy living environment. Monthly partners receive an adoption certificate, updates, and pictures of their adopted resident throughout the year. For information, visit www.cottonbranch.org/sponsorship.html .

Pond Branch United Methodist Church’s Chancel Choir invites you to the Christmas Cantata, “Christ Was Born for This.” The cantata will be presented December 16 at the 9:30 service. The Children’s Pageant will be held at 5 pm December 16 in the Family Activities Building. A covered dish meal will follow.

PBUMC invites the community to the candlelight service on Christmas Event 5:30 p.m. The church is at 1913 Pond Branch Rd.

Children can enjoy “Breakfast with Santa Claus” December 15, 9-11 am, at Beulah United Methodist Church. Santa’s breakfast will include sausage and pancakes, Christmas crafts, and the reading of the Christmas story. BUMC is located at 161 Beulah Church Road.

Gilbert Scouts Pack

60 members adopt a family for Christmas each year. The Scouts are given the information from the Gilbert schools. School guidance counselors identify families needing extra help to make Christmas special. The Scouts enjoy shopping for the gifts, which they will bring to their December meeting for distribution.

Readers are Leaders and many Gilbert Middle School students have been dropping off their books at the school’s Learning Commons. GMS students receive a ticket for each book they donate. December 19 and 20, the students can use their tickets to get a book from the donations. Leftover books will be donated to local charities.

You still have time to purchase a beautiful poinsettia from Gilbert High School’s FFA. They will be selling the plants until December 18. Cost is $11 dollars for a wrapped poinsettia with a white bow, and $8 dollars for an unwrapped one. These poinsettias were grown at the school’s FFA greenhouse. For information, contact Derrick Cooper at 821-1871.

Birthday wishes this week go to Eunice Durst, Thomas Taylor, William Thornburg, Patrick Evans, Jettie Covington, Loran Jerald, Brett Reeder, Mary Katherine Claw-son, Bill Crosby, Sandra Woodard, Jerry Shealy, Collin Hendrix, Bradley Adams, and McKinley Shealy.