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Residents of Greene and Christian counties wanting help in providing food and toys for their families can come to the Salvation Army in Springfield. Starting this week, those in need can sign up for Christmas holiday assistance, but must bring a couple required items with them when they apply. This year, the number of families expected to apply is higher than ever before. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark has more about what others can do to help.
For more than 120 years, the Salvation Army has been helping families in need in the Ozarks, especially during the winter season. This year, volunteers for the organization say that this season already they've seen many new faces apply for the Christmas assistance program, which started Monday. Audrey Esther, community relations director for the Salvation Army, says she thinks a number of factors contribute to this year’s high number of applicants.
“Of course, not only are people having trouble finding work, if they were previously unemployed, but also, the cost of living is just so much more, and it just keeps going up. The price of food, the price of gas—what it takes and what it costs to support a family is increasing, so we just want to let the folks now out there that we are here to help.”
Those who are interested in applying for assistance—which includes food, toys and winter weather accessories—must bring a few things with them to sign-up. Applicants should bring a picture ID, their original social security card for each member in their household, proof of income and a proof of residence. That could include something like a piece of mail within the last six months. However, people without those items can still receive help. Again, Audrey Esther.
“We try to work with everybody on a case-by-case basis, and we always say, if you really think you need help and you need assistance, please stop by. Bring what you can and what you have, and we will try to work with you.”
Esther says that the Salvation Army is in great need of more toy donations. She says the organization needs to collect close to 6,000 toys in order to reach its goal of providing for every family. She says new, unwrapped toys are preferred, but any donations will do.
Esther also says the Salvation Army help nearly 1,000 families, if not more, during this month. She said nearly half of the people who have signed up are brand new faces.
For more information on how you can help, you can call the Salvation Army at 862-5509. Those in need of the Christmas assistance program can sign up on weekdays at the Salvation Army Headquarters until Dec. 16th. That's at the intersection of Chestnut and Kansas Expressways.
For KSMU News, I’m Rebekah Clark.
Rebekah has lived in Springfield her entire life, and she plans to spend the rest of her life in southwest Missouri. She's a student at MSU seeking a major in public relations and a minor in history. In her free time, she loves to read, ride her bike, sing, spend time outdoors, hang out with her friends, listen to music and take pictures. She also volunteers with the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks and is a member of her church worship band.
