Operation Wildcat
Meeting the needs of All Students in our District
Project Furniture – Help with Pick-ups and Deliveries
Over the years Project Furniture has delivered beds and furniture to hundreds of families in the District. We have a great core group of volunteers who give of their time to pick up donated items and deliver furniture to families in need.
We need to expand our list of volunteers and are looking for help to assist with:
- Picking up donated items from in and around the District using the Operation Wildcat 15 ft. box truck. All donated items are either in the garage or will be outside for pick up.
- Delivering beds/furniture to families in the District. All deliveries are ‘to the door’ as OW no longer goes into homes (for liability reasons).
Days and times of pick-ups and deliveries are flexible and based around the volunteers schedules. If you have a couple of hours to spare each month we can really use the help to continue our mission to help families in need.
If you would like to volunteer or would like more details call/text/email:
-Kaleb Dissinger- t34foru@yahoo.com
-Maureen Ross -717-773-1988/mmross4@comcast.net
Project Thanksgiving Food Sorting 11/20, Basket Assembling 11/22, Set Up 11/25
Sign Up : https://www.timetosignup.com/operationwildcat/sheet/1364236
Project Thanksgiving needs lots of help sorting food and assembling the baskets!!
Food Sorting Wednesday Nov 20th 5:00-7:00pm. Food will be sorted in OW space in basement so please dress appropriately as there is no heat in the basement. Students are welcome and encouraged to help at this time!
Basket Assembly Friday Nov 22nd - 4:30-6:30pm. Assembly line time! We will be putting boxes together this year in the basement, then moving to the Custodian Hallway. Students are welcome and encouraged to help at this time. Great Service Opportunity! Fun Family Opportunity!
Set-up and Basket Distribution Nov 25th
Set-up 3:40pm. in the MMS cafeteria. Students are welcome to help during the set up.
Distribution (includes setup/cleanup) 4:30 - 7:30 pm. ONLY OW committee members can help during the distribution. No students please. Distribution will be in the cafeteria 5-7pm. ONLY OW Adult members can help during basket distribution. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Any questions, please contact Angie Weir-Shreffler, aweir1984@yahoo.com
Project Thanksgiving Food Collection 11/4-11/15
Help us provide all the items for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal for MASD families in need. We are collecting the following items in donation bins at all the MASD school offices 11/4-11/15:
Items Needed:
stuffing
canned vegetables
canned sweet potatoes
instant potatoes
cranberry sauce
gravy
toothbrushes & toothpaste
gift cards from our local grocery stores
TURKEY CERTIFICATES FROM OUR LOCAL GROCERY STORES
Please leave donated items in the Project Thanksgiving bins at any of the MASD schools. Gift cards and turkey certificates should be sent into school offices; they can also be mailed to or dropped off at MMS c/o “Operation Wildcat, attn: Project Thanksgiving”, MASD, 1750 South Market Street, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. Any questions, please contact Angela Weir-Shreffler
717-873-1002 aweir1984@yahoo.com. Your contributions will help make a difference this holiday season for MASD families.
If your family would like to receive a Thanksgiving Basket, need help with making the holidays a reality for your family, or are in need of warm clothing for winter, please contact your child’s school guidance counselor or nurse. All information is kept in strict confidence by the school staff.
Please contact your child’s school counselor no later than November 6th if you would like a Thanksgiving basket, or if you need help with the holidays. Please contact the school at any time for clothing needs.
Project Pennies for Pies
Project Pennies for Pies will be collecting coins 11/4-11/15 in each school main office, district office, and the rec center, along with other business in our community. Students, staff, and community members may donate at their leisure. Pennies collected will be used to buy pies for the Thanksgiving baskets. The past 3 years we had the opportunity to pay it forward and support a local business that has supported Operation Wildcat over the years, Paulus Farm! Paulus’ has provided Operation Wildcat with homemade pumpkin pies and will continue to be the primary supplier for Project Pennies for Pies.
FOR ALTERNATIVE DONATION OPTIONS OR IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DISPLAYING A “PENNIES 4 PIES” CAN AT YOUR BUSINESS PLEASE CONTACT CHAIRPERSON: JACLYN GINGRICH; JJMGINGRICH@YAHOO.COM; 717-324-3575
Project Tannenbaum Help Needed 12/4
Project Tannenbaum offers Christmas items (artificial Christmas trees, live Christmas tree certificates, ornaments, lights, etc) to families in our school district. Volunteers are needed to set up, help with distribution, and clean up on Wednesday, December 4th. Even if slots are filled, feel free to contact Patti Herring at familyzeke@verizon.net to let her know which timeframe you would like to volunteer. We welcome all volunteers!
Project Clothes Items Needed
Please only donate new or slightly used clothing; do not donate any torn or stained clothing. We want clothing your children have outgrown, not outworn . Note: we accept only NEW socks and NEW underwear. To help us with sorting donations, please mark the bag on the outside. If possible, please leave donations at MMS.
- We are in need of pj sets: All sizes. Boys Girls Men's and Women's
- Boys size 7/8 8/10 Clothing
- Sneakers: all sizes but in particular Boys sneakers size 1 2 3, Girls sneakers 1 2 3
- Women's Juniors Winter clothing: Small and Medium sizes
- Sports Bras - all sizes
- Underwear - all sizes
- We would also welcome Christmas/Holiday theme clothing for our families to enjoy this coming season. All sizes kids to adults
Donations can be left in the OW bin in the MMS lobby (preferably) or in any of the OW bins in the district buildings.
Project Tannenbaum’s Artificial Christmas Tree Drop Off 1/3
Friday, January 3, 2025
9am - 3pm
Mechanicsburg Middle School Lobby
As you are taking down your artificial Christmas tree after the holidays and wondering if you should keep it for next year, please consider donating it to Project Tannenbaum for our December, 2025 distribution! The trees should be delivered (in a box or bag) to the Mechanicsburg Middle School lobby on Friday, January 3, 2025 between 9am and 3pm. Any questions, please contact Patti Herring at 717-713-0617.
Project Spring for Socks
It's not spring : ), but OW is in desperate need of the following underwear sizes. We accept only NEW underwear. To help us with sorting donations, please mark the bag on the outside. If possible, please leave donations at MMS.
Boys 8/10, 10/12, 14/16, 16/18
Girls 5, 6, 8, 10
Juniors 5, 6, 7 lowrise, bikini and boyshort style
Mens S, M, L, XL
Project Back to School Thanks!
Thank you to all who donated back to school items throughout the summer at various sites and businesses. Even though our back to school drive is over, OW will gladly accept donations year round at district buildings, preferably MMS. Thank you for all your support!
What Items are Still Needed?
Back to School Supplies (new): backpacks for high schoolers, earbuds, folders, and notebook paper - wide ruled
Calculators (new or gently used): Texas Instrument 34 & 83 models
Personal Items (new): Brushes, Chapstick, Conditioner, Deodorant, Shampoo, Shaving cream, Soap, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Underwear
Gift cards to Giant, Grocery Outlet, Wal-Mart and Target can also be donated.
Gift cards can be mailed to or dropped off at the district office c/o “Operation Wildcat”, MASD, 600 South Norway Street, Mechanicsburg PA 17055.
If you have a child in MASD and need help with back-to-school items, etc., please contact your child’s school counselor or nurse. All requests are kept confidential.
For more information on or to get involved in Operation Wildcat, please visit our website www.operationwildcat.org, our Facebook page or contact Leslie Collins, operationwildcatmasd@gmail.com
Project Furniture Items Needed
Tall dressers in GOOD condition - not in need of repair/refinish (send picture please)
Microwaves - must be less than 6 years old, and in clean, working condition
Items must be in good condition. If you have any of these items to donate, please contact Maureen at 717-773-1988, mmross4@comcast.net. Thank you for helping our families!
Books Needed
Project Books is looking for books with more diversity and ESL books. Graphic novels are also a big request, primarily from the 4th-5th grade level teachers. These books will be used to supplement classroom libraries. If you have any of these books, they can left in the OW bin at MMS (preferably), OW bin at any district building or contact the project chair Holly Anderson hrfrock@yahoo.com to make arrangements.
Help Needed at OW Warehouse
Sign up: https://www.timetosignup.com/operationwildcat/sheet/1353817/warehouse-help-february-june-2024
If we are going to continue holding the Yard Sale, we need help year round. It takes many hands to receive donations, organize, sort, price and skid the donations. All that the volunteer needs to do is accept donations at the warehouse. Instructions on what OW takes and where to place the donations will be posted at the warehouse, as will contact information for any questions. Students are welcomed! NOTE: In case of inclement weather the warehouse will be closed. Warehouse is located at 507 N. York Street, Mechanicsburg, 17055. Turn on to Pleasant View Drive - 1st left into parking lot to Dock Door 1.
Questions – call or email Maureen at 717-773-1988. The twice-yearly Yard Sales are OW’s only fundraiser – it can only continue with your help.
OW Warehouse
Address: 507 N York Street, Mechanicsburg 17055. Turn on to Pleasant View Drive. Make 1st left into parking lot- stay straight to dock door 1. Skids will be in the area of dock door #1. Donations are on a "no contact" basis with all boxes and containers being placed on the skids outside the warehouse. OW Warehouse is open most Saturdays and Sundays 1-3pm
At the present time(due to all the donations received and lack of space) we are NOT taking:
Clothing
artificial Christmas trees (contact Project Tannenbaum chair Patti Herring familyzeke@verizon.net to make arrangements)
canister vacuums/ floor steamers/cleaners
dehumidifiers
electrical fixtures that need to be installed (i.e. ceiling/wall lighting, ceiling fans)
exercise equipment
Glassware - cups/mugs- vases
Grills
Used Pillows (bed or decorative)
Skis/ski equipment
Stuffed animals
textbooks
old tv sets/old stereo equipment
VHS Tapes
and items that have seen their day and need to be disposed of!
If you have Furniture to donate please text or email pictures AHEAD OF TIME to mmross4@comcast.net, 717-773-1988, to ensure we have room at the warehouse and they are items needed/requested by our families.
A tax receipt if available for all donations.
If you have a question on whether or not we can take an item - contact Maureen at 717-773-1988, mmross4@comcast.net
PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF DONATIONS WHEN THE OW WAREHOUSE IS NOT OPEN!
Help Needed Food Program Distribution for Elementary Schools 2024/25
Our schools have a food program in which they provide food for kids to take home over the weekend. The program fills backpacks with food and then distributes the food from MMS and KA to the various elementary schools. Help is needed this school year on Thursdays during the day to transport the filled backpacks to the various schools. It interested, please contact Paul Bigham, pbigham@mbgsd.org .
MASD School Board Meetings on YouTube
Meetings of the Mechanicsburg Area School District Board of Directors are NOW recorded and livestreamed for transparency and increased public access. The livestream, along with recordings from previously held meetings, can be found at this link. https://www.youtube.com/@masdschoolboard
Upcoming Events
11/4-11/15 Project Thanksgiving & Pennies for pies collection
11/20 - Thanksgiving Food Sorting
11/22 - Thanksgiving Basket Assembly
11/25-12/4 Project Gift Box collection
1/3 Project Tannenbaum Artificial Tree Drop Off
For more information
Website: www.operationwildcat.org
Email: operationwildcatmasd@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook: Operation Wildcat
Follow us on X @MASD_OW