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Salvation Army is seeking donations for holiday season
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By J.R. Williams -- jrwilliams@nvdaily.com
WINCHESTER -- The local Salvation Army is asking the community to hear the call of the needy again this holiday season.
The Winchester corps launched its annual red-kettle fundraising campaign Monday with a news conference at Apple Blossom Mall.
Bells will be ringing at about 15 city and Frederick County locations this year. Efforts will benefit the corps' holiday food drive, Angel Tree and other programs.
Sixty-five people are scheduled for 750 hours of bell-ringing this year, said Maj. Dan Turner, coordinator of the program. But the group is pushing for 1,200 hours to meet a $150,000 goal.
Most bell-ringers are paid. With the increase in minimum wage, Turner said, volunteers are needed so that money can be put back into the community.
"We're looking for individuals, not necessarily a club, to do a four-hour shift," he said. "One hour of somebody's time is just like giving $7.50 to the Salvation Army. ... It's a tough time for people, and It's so important that we say yes to everybody."
Paid personnel and volunteers will be stationed at the Wal-Marts on U.S. 50 and Pleasant Valley Road; Kmart; the mall; Big Lots; area Food Lions; and state ABC stores, he said. Shoppers also can donate at Miller Hardware in Stephens City.
John Whittington was manning a kettle front-and-center at the mall's main entrance Monday afternoon. He said it's his fourth season working for the Salvation Army.
"I enjoy doing it," he said. "Even though I get paid, you see the people's appreciation for the Salvation Army."
On the first day, "people seem to be really giving," he said.
To volunteer to be a bell ringer, call Turner at 662-4777.
The Angel Tree program also is in full swing. More than 900 families representing about 1,700 children have applied for assistance this year, Assistant Corps Officer Lt. Laura Bryant said.
Beginning Nov. 16, residents can pick up angels at the mall, Wal-Mart, Texas Steakhouse and Cracker Barrel locations.
Instructions on how to help the family are printed on the back of each angel. Gifts of new, unwrapped toys will go to children as young as newborns up to age 13.
Last year's numbers were slightly higher than this year, Bryant said.
"There were some times that we didn't know if we had enough toys and gifts," she said, but everyone was taken care of. "It doesn't take long to shop for an angel. An hour or less."
In addition to the gifts, the family receives a food donation. Last year, that included a whole turkey, fruit, a loaf of bread and a stocking filled with small items for each child.
Dec. 4 is the deadline to have gifts delivered to the corps' main office, at 300 Fort Collier Road in Winchester. After that date, miscellaneous gifts may be delivered to this year's distribution point.
A deal was reached to distribute gifts at the former FedEx facility at Fort Collier Road and Brooke Road, Turner said.
"It's a site we look for every year," he said. "They were the last people we had in mind. All I said was, 'I need you to be a hero.'"
Gift distribution begins Dec. 19.
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