By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
The Salvation Army will be accepting applications Monday and Tuesday from people needing assistance with Christmas gifts and food.
Applications will be taken both days from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Tuesday only, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Salvation Army office at 620 Bringle Ferry Road.
Those applying will need a current North Carolina driver’s license or picture ID card; social security card or a W-7 card for each member of the household; proof of address such as a lease or utility bill; and proof of income, Medicaid or food stamps.
Maj. Robin Starr, who heads up the Salisbury branch of the Salvation Army with his wife, Pam, said applications take 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
Christmas meals will be offered to qualifying individuals, couples and families. Parents who qualify may also receive Christmas gifts for children up to age 12.
Wish gifts and shoe and clothing sizes of children are included on Angel Trees now up at the following locations: Bank of America on West Innes Street; Carson High School; First United Methodist Church of Salisbury; Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home in China Grove and Landis; Hurley Family YMCA; Cracker Barrel; Sagebrush Steakhouse; Salisbury Mall; and SunTrust in Spencer and the Avalon Drive, Statesville Boulevard and West Innes Street branches in Salisbury. A tree will be placed in Wal-Mart the day after Thanksgiving.
Starr said 1,250 children were represented on last year’s Angel Trees, and he expects that many or more this year.
People who adopt angels can buy whatever they want. Starr said adopting an angel is an annual tradition for many individuals, families, coworkers and even businesses.
“Generally, if they’ve done it before,” he said, “they’ll do it again because they really enjoy it.”
Some companies, such as Food Lion, donate a variety of toys and clothing and shoe sizes instead of adopting individual angels.
Starr said it’s difficult to predict how this year’s declining economy will affect community response to the Angel Trees. “We’re just kind of praying that everybody will be able to think of others,” he said.
As for children older than 12, the Rowan County Department of Social Services usually helps with those gifts for qualifying parents. The Salvation Army might be able to help as well, Starr said, depending on how many donations come in.
The Salvation Army ó one of 16 Rowan County United Way agencies ó is also accepting donations of food and money to buy food for Christmas meals. “We give them enough food for a really nice meal,” he said.
Each meal consists of either a Cornish hen, turkey or ham with green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and a dessert. If enough canned food is collected, some extra cans are included with the meal.
Last year, the Salvation Army provided Christmas meals and/or assistance with gifts to more than 700 families. “This has been a very generous community,” Starr said. “We want to say thank you to everybody for all they have done.”
The Rowan-Salisbury School System also conducts a White Christmas Canned Food Drive throughout the year. “That’s why we’re able to pass food out all year long,” he said.
Volunteers are needed for the food and gift distribution to be held Dec. 18 and 19 at the former location of Windsong bike shop beside of Pizza Hut on Jake Alexander Boulevard.
Starr said volunteers are also needed for the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle fundraising campaign already under way at the following locations: Big Lots, IGA in Cleveland, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Magic Mart and Salisbury Mall.
The kettle campaign begins at Wal-Mart the day after Thanksgiving and at Harris Teeter in early December.
Last year, the Salvation Army collected $47,000 in donations through the Red Kettle campaign. “That was up by about $2,000 the year before,” Starr said. “We are expecting it to go a little lower this year because we lost a few kettle days by Thanksgiving falling back a week.”
For more information on the Salvation Army’s Christmas projects or to volunteer to ring a bell for the Red Kettle Campaign or distribute meals and gifts on Dec. 18-19, call 704-636-6491.