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Salvation Army sees more holiday demand
Photo by James Nix
Salvation Army volunteer Marge May, at right, carries a bag of presents, as Barbara Childers looks for another bag while the volunteers distributed the bags as part of the Christmas assistance program Thursday morning.
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Published: December 20, 2009
CONCORD — Men and women wearing Santa hats handed large, black bags filled with gifts to locals in the Concord Commons shopping center on Thursday.
The Salvation Army in Concord distributed its Christmas assistance toys and gift cards on Thursday and will continue to do so today.
There were 964 families that applied for assistance this year. Among those families, there were 2,698 children in need.
Last year, about 840 families applied for and received assistance, said Maj. Melinda Johnson, Corps officer for the Salvation Army in Concord.
"We guessed it would (be more people this year), because of the economy and the recession, and it's a lot of new people," Johnson said. "I had one woman shaking when she came to apply, because she had never (had to) before.
"A lot of people are this season."
There were people like Carmen Williams, of Concord, who was there for the first time with her 7-year-old daughter, Briana, and her infant son.
Williams said she needed assistance because of the economy and having to go on maternity leave. She asked for diapers for her son and items like nail polish for her daughter.
"It is kind of hard this year," Williams said. "It means a lot to have something under the tree. It's great they have this."
Those who needed assistance in Cabarrus and Stanly counties came to the Concord Salvation Army in October to apply. After a week of applications, the needs were distributed among businesses, churches and other groups for the Angel Tree program.
The Salvation Army received the gifts from the angel trees for several weeks and began putting together the items to be distributed this week. Toys for Tots, S&D Coffee and other groups also contributed.
While there were more children and families asking for assistance this year, Johnson said, there were about the same amount of angels collected and turned in as last year. Because of this, there were fewer toys distributed this year.
"I had to cut back from three toys to one toy, a small thing and book," Johnson said.
In addition to the toys, families were also given a Bi-Lo gift card to use so they could purchase a meal for Christmas. The gift cards are purchased with Salvation Army funds like those collected during its Red Kettle Campaign.
No matter what they asked for, many families were just happy to receive assistance.
"I was not really expecting this much, with the way the economy is, but I'm glad those who give extra do," said Althea Williams, of Kannapolis, who has a household of eight. "I hope I will be in a position one day to give back, too."
The Salvation Army also expressed gratitude toward everyone who helped provide assistance for local families. Besides the groups and individuals who donate, there were between 50 and 75 people who volunteered throughout the process, Johnson said.
"The real work of the community is before this day," Johnson said Thursday.
And even though she said she wishes there were more to give to local families, she said the Christmas spirit was alive when volunteers distributed the gifts.
"I told the volunteers that some bags don't seem to have much in them, but we know they are full of love and Christmas spirit," Johnson said.
• Contact reporter Jessica Groover: 704-789-9152
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