St. Charles looking for elves to volunteer for holidays

Tri-Cities families who need help celebrating the holidays can register for assistance this week in St. Charles.

Tri-City Salvation Army, 1710 S. Seventh Ave., will have open registration for its annual holiday assistance program 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, and 9 a.m. to noon Friday.

Eligible families can receive Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets with turkeys and all the trimmings, as well as gifts for nursing home residents and children 16 and younger.

Maj. Steve Koehler, commanding officer at Tri-City Salvation Army, said the organization typically provides $50,000 or more in assistance to 5,100 individuals each year.

"It's quite a Christmas list," he said.

Registration is open to families in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Wayne.

Registrants should bring valid photo identification; a copy of a current lease or mortgage bill; proof of income for the past three months for each adult 18 or older in the household; and Social Security cards or valid international consulate cards for the entire household.

Koehler said eligibility is based on each family's individual situation.

"For those who are hurting this time of year or who have been for quite some time, we want the Salvation Army to serve as many as we can," he said. "We're looking forward to a generous season."

The Salvation Army also is looking for volunteers to help for an hour or two during registration, fill food basket orders, and participate in the bell-ringing campaign, which kicks off Nov. 16.

Call (630) 377-2769.

If you go

What: Registration for holiday assistance

When: 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, and 9 a.m. to noon Friday

Where: Tri-City Salvation Army, 1710 S. Seventh Ave., St. Charles

Info: Call (630) 377-2769