December 14, 2016
Salvation Army fighting for a merry Christmas Learn & Play
11
Holly, jolly recipies
Community Voices
2
By Orvin Kimbrough
The Salvation Army Brass Band performs at the Festival of Lights which kicked off the holiday giving season in St. Louis this year.
Photo by Nicholas Elmes
Organization looks to help families in need during the holiday season By Nicholas Elmes Traditionally Christmas has been a time of bounty and joy, but for many families in the St. Louis area, figuring out how to afford to buy presents for their children can be a herculean task. Thankfully hundreds of volunteers and generous donors are there to help, many directing their kindness through the Salvation Army. This year the organization will help thousands of local families through three separate programs, according to Midland Division Director of Communications Jack Wang. He said one of the main programs, the Angel Tree Program, allows local business and shopping centers to host an Angel Tree, which is decorated with ornaments containing information about needy children. “Individual angels are adopted and items are purchased by donors specifically for that child and the gifts are returned to The Salvation Army. Parents pick up gifts from The Salvation Army site they applied at,” said Wang. “Families sign up for angel tree program through one of five Salvation Army sites; Maplewood Corps, Euclid Corps, Temple Corps, Gateway Corps or Family Haven. On the application, parents identify the toy preferences for their child.” People looking to help a needy child through the Angel Tree program can do so through the Salvation Army division
headquarters by calling the Christmas receptionist at 314-646-3159. Angels are also available at South County Mall. The Adopt-A-Family program is aimed at helping families that have dealt with a major crisis during the past year. “Families are nominated by various social service agencies because the family has had a significant challenge throughout the year (illness, fire, layoff, etc) and donors are matched to families to purchase gifts for the family,” said Wang. “Gifts are brought to The Salvation Army and families pick up the gifts at our divisional headquarters.” The final program, Toy Town, allows needy families to directly pick out toys for their children from a collection of donated toys. “Families also receive a food voucher for their Christmas meal,” said Wang. He said this year 3,000 children will be helped through the Angel Tree program, 2,000 families will be helped through Toy Town, and 150 families are up for adoption through the Adopt-A-Family program. “130 organizations will be assisted with Toys for Tots gifts representing over 16,000 children,” said Wang. “We will also provide 1,000 families without children with a grocery store voucher to purchase items for their holiday meal.” Wang said the organization’s ability to help so many people during the Christ-
mas holiday was due to key partnerships with some of St. Louis’ largest corporations and small businesses. He said hundreds of volunteers were also key to the success of the organization’s Christmas support each year. “We have several hundreds of volunteers which include individuals and corporations that are helping at our warehouse sorting and bagging toys, Angel Tree sponsors which provide a child with toys for Christmas, food pantry helpers and bell ringers,” said Wang. “ See SALVATION ARMY page 2
Business
7
School
9
Entrepreneurial Contest winner
Teachers visit Kennedy Space Center
Movie: To spoil or not to spoil, that is the question 16 FREE Online Subscription at mycnews.com