Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
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Monday, November 16, 2009
By PAUL COLLINS - Bulletin Staff Writer
Nearly 12 percent more families in Henry County and Martinsville applied for Christmas assistance programs this year than the local Salvation Army served last year.
Last year, 468 families in the county and city were served through the Angel Tree, Bikes for Tykes, Stocking Stuffers and Adopt-a-Family programs, and this year 522 families applied for assistance, Major Orville Chambless said Tuesday. He added that the Salvation Army won’t turn down many of those families.
“If we do, it’s (because) children are not of the right age or we don’t have all the information,” he said.
The increase amounts to 54 families, based on information Chambless provided.
Last year, the Salvation Army raised about $145,000 from two Christmas season fund raisers: the kettle drive and a mailing seeking donations. Of that, he estimated about $40,000 went for Christmas assistance, which includes gift packs for nursing home residents as well as the other programs.
Because of the increased demand for Christmas assistance and an increase throughout 2009 in people seeking help through Salvation Army’s other programs, Chambless believes the holiday kettle drive and mailing will need to bring in about $30,000 more this year, he said.
Most of the money raised will be used to help pay for programs throughout the year, such as assistance for rent, mortgages and emergency housing; assistance with utilities; clothing; a food pantry; a feeding program (a hot lunch three days a week for about 75 people each day); and prescriptions.
Chambless attributed the increase in requests for assistance to such things as the economy and “people having to make tough choices. For a lot of people ... they really just are at their last hope, so they’ve reached out for help.”
Also, the costs of many items have increased, making it harder for families to make ends meet, he said.
The kettle drive will run from Nov. 13 to Dec. 24, he said. The Salvation Army still is seeking volunteer bell ringers to reduce costs. Call Judy Nolen, a case manager for the Salvation Army, at 638-7259 to learn more.
The holiday mailing will go out Nov. 15, Chambless said.
If the Salvation Army does not raise the money needed through the kettle drive and holiday mailing, it will have to consider cutting its budget or doing additional fund-raising, Chambless said.
“We’re very appreciative, and when they (people) see a kettle, it’s there to help people in crisis in the community and to bring smiles to the children,” Chambless said.
The Salvation Army also receives funding from such sources as United Way, grants and smaller mailings, he said. |
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