Published: December 20, 2008 10:11 pm      

Christmas spirit comes to life

Salvation Army provides gifts, meals for holiday celebrations

As Thursday dawned dark, dank and drizzly, hundreds of people lined up from the door of the Fannie Mae Vernon Room to the street, some as early as 6:30 a.m., and patiently waited for the doors to open.

Inside, volunteers and staff from The Salvation Army frantically put toys into plastic bags to protect them from the rain, as others prepared food boxes and got ready to distribute all these, along with frozen chickens, to the families waiting. When the doors opened at 8:45 a.m., the steady flow lasted until 3 p.m., when The Salvation Army was scheduled to vacate the room and move the entire distribution back to army headquarters at 212 E. First Ave.

“Some of our people worked 24 hours straight,” said Major Chuck Anderson of The Salvation Army. “My wife, Beth, was there all day sorting, along with many others, and they went to Wal-Mart at 9 p.m. and again at 3 a.m., and spent $3,000 to have enough toys to cover the ‘angels’ who weren’t adopted.

“We took care of the 354 families who were on our list that day, and we have continued to help families as calls continue to come in.”

Among the volunteers at distribution day was Sue Tyner, executive director of the Navarro County Food Pantry. The agencies collaborate, cooperating in order to do the most good for people in the community.

Friday morning, five more families received Christmas assistance at The Salvation Army, where they still have toys to give.

“We have had a flood of calls from people with very recent emergencies,” Anderson said. “Some were people who didn’t sign up, but then suffered a job loss, or their home burned, or whatever. We will be giving stuff out until Christmas Eve, maybe Christmas Day if they need things.”

Jackie Williams, case manager with The Salvation Army, said they were contacted just this week by a woman with eight children. She suffered a death in the family, went to Ohio for the funeral, and returned with three more children to raise. She had lost her job, her car broke down, and she suddenly has 11 children for whom to care.

“Stories like this are why we will be giving toys until Christmas Day,” Anderson said. “Right now, we are receiving lots of calls for electric heaters, too. Because of the liability, we can’t accept used electric heaters — but we really need new electric heaters, because many people are without heat during these cold days and nights.

“We also need blankets. During December, January and February, the requests for utility assistance will increase significantly. Cash donations would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you bring us a toy, I will get it in the hands of a needy child, right up until the 25th.”

Anderson said The Salvation Army very much appreciates the generosity of the community, and specifically the Corsicana Fire Department, which has been very generous with its toy drive.

“I love Corsicana,” Anderson said. “I loved it before I got here. Beth and I won’t be effective here if we don’t love the people, and we do. This is our city.”

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Deanna Brown may be contacted via e-mail at deanna@corsicanadailysun.com