“The most wonderful time of the year” has come upon us. The holiday season is in full swing, bringing many opportunities and events with it.

Many churches in the Searcy area are joining in on the fun with projects of their own. Downtown Church of Christ is asking for assistance filling its food pantry. The church is specifically looking for cranberry sauce, peanut butter, canned pumpkin and cream of chicken soup. College Church of Christ is currently holding a coat drive, which ends Saturday Nov. 14. The drive will accept any unused or gently used coats. West Race Baptist Church will serve a free Thanksgiving meal Friday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Multiple organizations around Searcy plan to hold events of their own. The Searcy Parks & Recreation’s Prelude to Holiday Craft Fair will take place at the Carmichael Community Center on Saturday Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Events will take place throughout Little Rock, including the Family Fun Saturday “Turkey-Lympics” — a free event that will last from noon to 2 p.m., and is packed with games and refreshments.

Every year, Aramark treats Harding students to a Thanksgiving meal in the cafeteria. The meal, complete with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin and pecan pie, is set to be served Nov. 18, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This meal has always meant so much to students and has helped them get in the holiday spirit. Special tables are set up for the occasion and multiple lines are served to accomodate the large amount of students entering the caf. This is one of the many times throughtout the year that the Harding campus comes together as a student body.

It has been such a hit with students, it feels like a holiday, it feels like a home cooked meal, and it gets students excited for the break. This holiday season, take advantage of the service opportunities around and off campus. Visit your church website to find service projects and other drives available to give to. Do your best to be the selfless servant Christ calls us to be. Make someone else’s holiday bright.