While the holiday season may be a difficult time for those who rely on charity to help provide a Christmas dinner, there is good news for kids from Major Grayling Crites, the commanding officer and pastor of the Salvation Army's Thompson Corps and Community Services.
"We're about a year ahead with toys," said Crites, and thanks to those donations, the organization can afford to be generous when it comes to making Christmas special for children. Last year, each child received three new toys and Crites expects it will be about the same this year.
"People are very generous in this community when it comes to that," said Crites, noting that all the toys distributed by the Salvation Army are received through donations.
The Thompson Corps began handing out applications for its Christmas hampers Nov. 13 and those who would like to receive one should return their completed forms to the Salvation Army office or thrift store by Dec. 5.
"You get a voucher for Safeway and it's based on the size of your family," said Crites. "Basically, it's meant for food so nobody goes hungry at Christmas. If there are children involved, there are new toys, too."
Crites says the Salvation Army usually plans to have enough money and toys to distribute 200 hampers, though it has been several years since they've given out that many in Thompson.
Last year, they received 121 applications, of which 118 were approved, lower numbers than in 2007.
"We were about 20 families lower than the previous year," said Crites. "I expected more, but we had less."
That means no one who qualifies will risk missing out on a hamper.
"Nobody's going to get turned away," said Crites, "certainly not with toys."
The volunteer campaign that funds the hamper program - the Christmas kettle fundraiser - gets started Nov. 21 at three locations around town.
"It starts on the weekends and then gradually increases closer to Christmas," explains Crites, who wants to hear from anyone interested in collecting donations for two-hour shifts. "We're always looking for volunteers. We had 155 spots to be filled this year. We have 11 spoken for. If you can give us just two hours of your time, it would be much appreciated.""
In 2008, the Thompson Corps collected about $12,400 with the kettles, along with about $16,700 from mail-in donations - money that all stays within the region. This year will mark the 45th year of the Christmas kettle program in Thompson.
"That is used for the Christmas hampers and anything left over is kept in the fund and used throughout the year as needed," said Crites.
The Salvation Army is also seeking volunteers to wrap toys on Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. at their location at 305 Thompson Drive.
Christmas hamper applications are available at the Salvation Army Thrift Store from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. To volunteer for the Christmas kettle program, contact the Salvation Army at 677-3658, 778-8749 or 679-5308.
