Caring for the community is a vital part of the way residents of the city of Columbiana go about daily life.

Vignette Club members recently took their creative and charitable hands to work to create the “Vignette Giving Tree.” The tree sits as part of the Parade of Trees in the Shelby County Museum. Each ornament represents the ways in which the club gives back to our community and others. Rachel Fowler came up with the idea and, along with fellow Vignettes Janice Falkner and Stephanie Dikis, designed this beautiful symbol of our community. One of the organizations big Christmas projects includes providing gift cards for the Safe House along with wrapping paper, bows and scotch tape, so the resident mothers can shop for their children and wrap their own presents.

The Columbiana United Methodist Church is known throughout the community for the Skillet Bird Toy Fund, which has given hundreds of children clothes and toys at Christmas. Bird established this fund, and it has continued on through the perseverance of his Sunday School Class, the Luther Fowler Class, and his last wish. This year 160 children will receive a special Christmas through the generosity to this fund. To make contributions to the Skillet Bird Toy Fund, send donations c/o CUMC, P.O. Box 676, Columbiana, Al. 35051.

The First Baptist Church of Columbiana is known for the Christmas Gift Shop. This shop is now in Calera and helps hundreds of families. This year, the church is filling 50 stockings for the gift shop. The Samaritan Purse, a worldwide ministry for those in need led by Franklin Graham, is also greatly supported by the church at Christmas. This year alone, 124 boxes filled with needed items have already been shipped.

The David Lindsey Chapter of the DAR recently met in the library to fill zip lock bags for the Veteran’s Home in Alexander City with socks, personal hygiene items, playing cards, puzzles and books. Members of the chapter even personally deliver the packages.

The Columbiana Culture Club decorates the Jeanette Niven Community House for Christmas each year. This Christmas, the club supported the Safe House financially and will send articles of personal hygiene, books, and snacks to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Culture, Novella and Culture Clubs all have bought children’s underwear to support the Alabama Federation of Women’s Club’s Third District project, CASA’s “Cover their Bottoms” for Christmas. The goal is to collect 2008 new pairs of underwear for Jefferson and Shelby County’s foster children.