Christmas Assistance
A Time to Share!
The Christmas season is a time to celebrate God’s gift to us – his Son Jesus. Unfortunately, it is also a time of hardship and burden for many families in our community. For those who already have a hard time meeting their basic needs, the societal pressure to provide new toys to their children is great. In addition, while children celebrate two weeks off from school, parents sometimes struggle with the increased costs of food and childcare.
The Salvation Army helps to fill these gaps by providing toys for children and holiday food boxes. Every season, we register approximately 1,500 families for Christmas Assistance. Thanks to the Marines’ Toys for Tots program, we guarantee at least 2 new toys for every child through the age of 12. Our holiday food box not only incorporates all the foods that a holiday feast would include (even a turkey), but also extras like peanut butter, cereal, and soup for kids who are home from school. All this food is purchased with donations to our Red Kettles.
We typically accept applications for assistance over numerous weeks in November, but require specific documentation to prove who lives in the household and their income level. Then, we verify that applicants have not applied at other local agencies for Christmas assistance. Applicants are then registered for the Toy Shop, at which they get to choose toys for their children and receive a holiday food box.
Please check back in October for information about how to apply for assistance for Christmas 2012.
Questions? Suggestions?
Submit questions and suggestions with our online Contact Form, email myfamily@usc.salvationarmy.org or give us a call at 574-233-9471.
