Salvation Army Tri-City Corps provides toys, clothing to families in need
The Salvation Army Tri-City Corps Joe K. Anderson Community Center is hoping to provide a joyous Christmas morning to approximately 2,000 children in the Tri-Cities area.
The annual Jim Wheeler Toys for Kids Campaign provides toys to families in need and this year the campaign will kick off its toy collection at the Downtown St. Charles Partnership Electric Christmas Parade on Saturday, Nov. 26. Parade sets off at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street, from Sixth Street to Fourth Avenue.
Supporters are invited to bring a toy to the parade, to be collected by the St. Charles Breakfast Rotary Club gloat as it travels down the parade route.
In days after the parade, toy donations can be brought to The Salvation Army, 1710 S. Seventh Ave. in St. Charles, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
Other ways to help provide for children and families in need:
• Angel Tree. Volunteers can adopt angels, which include wish list items from children who will be served through our Christmas Toy Shop. Volunteers are asked to purchase toys, coat, and clothing items for each angel.
• Family Adoption. The Salvation Army selects a specific family to be adopted by your family or organization. We collect their wish list, and you purchase the gifts and clothing for the family plus a gift card for a holiday meal.
• Christmas food basket sponsorship. The Salvation Army distributes between $18,000-$20,000 in gift cards to provide Christmas food baskets for families receiving help through the Holiday Assistance Program.
• Volunteer bell ringers Needed. The money raised locally in the Red Kettle Campaign provides resources for Tri-City families not only during the holiday season, but year-round, through emergency assistance and community center programming. Volunteers are crucial to the success of the Red Kettle Campaign and The Salvation Army Tri-City Corps is asking the community for their help. Individuals, businesses, service clubs, churches and families are invited to register for bell-ringing shifts either online at salar.my/TriCityRTR.
For more information, contact Deanna Wieden, The Salvation Army Tri-City Volunteer Coordinator, at Deanna_wieden@usc.salvationarmy.org or call (630) 377-ARMY (2769).
Families in need of assistance can contact Belen Hood of The Salvation Army Community and Family Services at 630-377-2769.
For information, visit www.satricity.org.
The Salvation Army has served the Tri-City community for over 65 years of dedicated service. The Tri-City Corps Joe K. Anderson Community Center provides basic human needs. The Tri-City Corps is part of The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division.