WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – Richmond’s Emergency Warming Center is closed through Friday, but other locations are available for those needing a safe place to stay.

Those in need are encouraged to stay at the warming center at New Deliverance Temple, located at 1403 S. 9^th Street. Transportation is available from the library at 5:30 p.m. nightly.

Hope House, located at 121 N. 10^th Street, is open to men seeking overnight shelter. Women in need of a place to stay can go to Refuge of Hope at 1031 E. Main Street.

Additional resources include the STRIDE Center at 816 Dillon Drive and Bridges for Life at 100 N. 10^th Street, both offering support during the closure.

Local agencies encourage anyone in need to use these options and stay safe during the cold weather.

CENTERVILLE, Ind. – Cope Environmental Center is accepting used Christmas trees for recycling through Jan. 16.

The program is offered in partnership with Richmond Power & Light. RP&L mulches the trees, and the material is reused for trail maintenance and land stewardship projects throughout Cope’s property.

“The mulch helps protect trail edges, reduce erosion, define natural pathways, and improve muddy or high-traffic areas. Using the trees in this way allows Cope to maintain safe, sustainable trails while reusing natural materials already available within our community,” said Becca Vance, Administrative & Marketing Coordinator.

Vance said recycling live Christmas trees keeps them out of landfills, where they would take up space and release methane as they decompose.

“Repurposing trees allows valuable organic material to return to the land, providing habitat for wildlife, soil enrichment, and erosion reduction,” she said.

Cope has offered Christmas tree recycling for several years, with community participation continuing to grow. Each season, the center receives hundreds of trees, all of which are used in conservation efforts.

Vance said this program supports Cope’s mission of promoting sustainability, environmental stewardship, and conservation education.

“It provides an easy, eco-friendly option for residents while creating valuable resources for wildlife and enhancing natural areas that the community enjoys year-round,” she said.

Residents should remove all decorations before drop-off, including lights, ornaments, tinsel and tree stands.

Trees can be dropped off at 4910 Shoemaker Road. The designated drop-off area is located on the southwest side of the parking lot as drivers exit. Cope is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Image source: Cope Environmental Center Facebook Page

INDIANA – Centerstone is one of Indiana’s largest behavioral health providers and has continued to expand its reach in Richmond.

Centerstone is a nonprofit behavioral health care provider. The organization employs about 1,100 team members statewide and provides care to more than 35,000 patients each year.

Founded in 1955, Centerstone holds federal Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic status in 15 Indiana counties.

A partnership between Centerstone and United Way Whitewater Valley led to the creation of the STRIDE Center in Richmond, a 24/7 crisis diversion center that opened in February 2025.

The center offers safe and immediate help for those facing mental health or substance use crises. Instead of being taken to jail or the hospital, people can receive care from trained specialists, peer support staff, and mobile crisis teams who focus on de-escalation and connecting individuals to resources such as housing, food assistance, and ongoing mental health services.

“By offering timely, compassionate mental health and substance use support, STRIDE helps reduce strain on hospitals and first responders while providing care that is more appropriate and person-centered. For the community, this means faster access to help, fewer crises escalating into emergencies and better outcomes for individuals and families,” said Kelly Benedict, Director of Crisis Services for Indiana.

The center offers mobile crisis teams to further their help into the community.

“Through our mobile crisis teams, we also extend services to rural counties, helping people in areas with limited resources to access support, treatment and connections to care they might not otherwise receive,” Benedict said.

Across the state, Centerstone provides substance use disorder treatment, outpatient psychiatric care and counseling, primary health care, community-based services and foster cares services. While the organization accepts Medicaid, Benedict emphasized that financial barriers should never prevent someone from receiving care.

“Our mission is to eliminate barriers that would prevent our patients from accessing quality mental health care,” said Benedict.

The collaboration between Centerstone, United Way, and city officials aims to fill longstanding gaps in mental health and social services. Partnerships with law enforcement allow officers to bring individuals directly to STRIDE instead of jail.

Community members, volunteers, and local businesses also play a key role in the center’s success. “Before opening the Richmond center, we collaborated with law enforcement agents, the fire department, the health department and United Way to get their support for bringing these essential services to the area,” Benedict said.

Teams meet regularly to review progress and work to address any challenges or barriers. Centerstone tracks data, including the number of people served, the types of services provided to patients, and outcomes related to safety, stabilization and connection to care.

Looking ahead, Benedict said the long-term vision for STRIDE is to continue strengthening partnerships and expanding outreach.

“We want to expand education and outreach to increase awareness about mental health care and reduce stigma,” said Benedict.

Image source: https://centerstone.org/

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ind. – The annual Winterfest returns to Connersville this weekend, continuing a decadeslong holiday tradition that organizers say grows each year.
“We began to reimagine our approach about five years ago,” said Brayton Johns, volunteer organizer for Winterfest.

This year’s festival runs Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 through 6. Friday hours are 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday hours are 12:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Winterfest features holiday activities for families, live entertainment, local shopping and seasonal food. Each day includes different themed programming. Returning attractions include the holiday market, “Reindeer Games” for children, live performances and pony rides. Santa and Mrs. Claus also plan to make an appearance.

Johns said these events are all designed to bring residents together throughout the weekend.

Most of the activities are set to take place in downtown Connersville, with Market Street Plaza serving as the primary hub. “Additional events are held at nearby partner locations…” Johns said, “to encourage visitors to explore the full downtown corridor.” This includes downtown churches and other nearby buildings.

The festival will feature more than 20 craft vendors and food trucks. This year’s food lineup includes Pitmasters Privilege BBQ, Outlaw’s Deep-Fried Chicken and Tomasino’s Bakery, among others. Several small businesses downtown will also extend their hours.

Winterfest is fully community-driven, supported by 15 local organizations, businesses and volunteers. The event aims to promote downtown revitalization efforts and highlight local entrepreneurs. Johns said supporters can visit the event’s page for donor highlights or looks for signage on-site honoring contributors.

“It supports local entrepreneurs, draws visitors to downtown, and creates a festive environment that showcases Connersville’s spirit and hospitality,” Johns said.

Visitors can park in designated downtown lots and along Central Avenue.

“We recommend arriving a little early for the most convenient spots. Additional signage and volunteers will help direct guests,” Johns said. He also recommends dressing for the weather, as many activities involve walking between different parts of downtown.

For Johns, Winterfest represents the best of Connersville and its growth.

“There's no time like Christmas in Connersville. It’s a privilege to help bring an event to life that makes our community feel connected and celebrated.”

Image provided by Brayton Johns.

NEW CASTLE, Ind. – New Castle is preparing to welcome the community to its annual Christmas Walk on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Christmas Walk plans to feature 115 vendors along Broad and Main streets, including both local shops and visiting sellers.

“That is a combination of local brick and mortar and incoming vendors,” said Shonda Kane, Executive Director of Henry County Chamber of Commerce.

Children can enjoy games and activities, including bounce houses. The Chamber encourages attendees to watch for small Frosty figures hidden throughout the Christmas Walk. Those who find one can redeem it for gift card prizes later in the evening. Horse-drawn wagon rides, live reindeer, and appearances by Santa, Buddy the Elf and the Grinch are also planned.

“Shops love the surge in shoppers and new people in their stores,” Kane said. “Downtown New Castle has seen many changes in the past few years, and this is a great avenue to show off their progress.”

The Christmas Walk has been a Chamber tradition for more than 15 years, growing from a handful of vendors to over 100. “Each year it grows a bit,” Kane noted.

The Chamber is coordinating with city officials, police, fire, and EMS to ensure safety measures are taken throughout the evening. State Road 38 and several downtown side streets will be closed. A map of closures is available on the Chamber’s website.

“Volunteers man the barricades while vendors are setting up,” Kane said.

Parking downtown is expected to fill quickly. New Castle Transit will provide a shuttle from the Ace hardware parking lot to Broad and Main streets to help with traffic flow.

 “The Chamber and the Christmas Walk planning committee are excited to welcome so many people to our community,” Kane said.

Image provided by Shonda Kane.

FOUNTAIN CITY, Ind. – Fountain City’s second annual Hometown Holiday celebration will take place Saturday, Dec. 6, bringing festive lights, music, and community cheer to the heart of town.

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with the town’s first-ever Lighted Christmas Parade, featuring the Northeastern Band and a variety of illuminated floats. The parade will travel from the Lions Club, down Main Street to U.S. 27, and end at Fountain City Park.

Once the parade concludes, the park will host the main festivities, including live music, a tree lighting ceremony, photos with Santa, and a variety of vendors offering hot chocolate, cookies, and more. Community partners for this year’s celebration include Roasted – Coffee Station, Martin’s Country Mart, Brighter Path, Quaker Trace Carriage, and Fountain City Forward merchandise table.

The celebration is organized and hosted by Fountain City Forward, with support from partners including the Wayne County Foundation Grant. Elizabeth Williams Bond, member of Fountain City Forward, said seeing the park filled with families and smiles reminds their team why they host this event.

“Everything Fountain City Forward does is aimed at bringing people together,” Bond said. “Helping neighbors reconnect, building community pride, and creating shared experiences.”

Guests may park at The Eatery, inside the park, and along nearby side streets.

Families are encouraged to bring their own ornament to hang on the Community Tree. For those who don’t have one, a simple ornament station will be on-site, allowing guests to personalize an ornament.

Santa will make a festive entrance on a lighted tractor to officially open the evening. A Lighted Santa’s Mailbox will also be set up for children to drop off their letters. “Last year, many of us were moved to tears watching children light up as they saw Santa and counted down the tree lighting,” Bond said.

Live holiday music will be performed throughout the evening by featured musician, Rafe Addison.

Bond noted that this year’s event will carry added meaning with planned dedications. Both the Community Tree and the recently added Wind Phone will be formally recognized.

Nearly 15 volunteers are contributing their time to make the celebration possible.

“We don’t host this event to make money. We host it to give families something joyful, magical, and meaningful to experience together,” Bond said, adding that everyone is welcome, even those who live outside Fountain City.

Photo features board members with Santa, 2024 Hometown Holiday.

Image submission by Elizabeth Williams Bond.

WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – December 2, 2025, marks Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity that encourages people to support nonprofits, volunteer, and spread kindness.

This began in 2012 as a way to balance the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s now grown into a worldwide movement, raising billions of dollars for charitable causes each year.

Across the nation, organizations are calling on donors to step up and give, no matter how big or small. From food banks to scholarship funds, nonprofits are using Giving Tuesday to inspire hope and highlight the impact of contributions.

Here in east-central Indiana and surrounding counties, dozens of groups accept donations.

DARKE COUNTY:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County

Cancer Association of Darke County

Community Unity

Darke County Foundation

Darke County Friends of the Shelter

Darke County United Way

Fish Choice Pantry

Grace Resurrection Community Center
DELAWARE COUNTY:

Suzanne Gresham Center with Meridian Health Services

HENRY COUNTY:

A Friend’s House, Inc.

Henry County Community Foundation

Grace Network of Martinsville & Henry County

One TRUe LOVe

Southside SPCA

The Salvation Army of Henry County

FAYETTE COUNTY:

Fayette County Food Council

East End United Community Center

Fayette Community Foundation

Fayette Resources, Inc.

Cops for Kids, Inc.

PREBLE COUNTY:

H.I.T Foundation

Miami Valley Community Action Partnership

The Common Good of Preble County

Preble County Council on Aging

Preble County Youth Foundation

Preble County Habitat for Humanity

Preble County Food Bank

Preble County Veterans Services

RANDOLPH COUNTY:

Community Foundation of Randolph County

Jay-Randolph Developmental Services

The Journey Home

Winchester Area Churches and Community Food Pantry

UNION COUNTY:

Community Help Center & Thrift

CCCC Food & Clothing Pantry

Union County Foundation

The Arc of Union County

WAYNE COUNTY:

American Red Cross

Amigos Richmond Latino Center

Boys and Girls Clubs of Wayne County

Circle U Help Center

Cope Environmental Center

Communities in Schools of Wayne County

Gateway Hunger Relief Center

Girls Inc. Wayne County

Richmond Neighborhood Restoration

The Children’s center

The Salvation Army

Wayne County Foundation

United Way of Whitewater Valley

2^nd Chance Animal Rescue