Area service agencies are preparing for the Christmas holiday, and with the need expected to be greater than ever, they want to avoid duplication.
According to Ken Locke, Salvation Army community ministries director, the Salvation Army, Combined Community Services, Mary & Jerry’s Helping Hands and the Syracuse Food Pantry are coordinating efforts to avoid duplication this year.
“We want to try to stretch our resources as much as we can,” Locke said. “It’s probably more critical this year because of the need.”
Each year for the holiday, CCS offers the Adopt-A-Family program. The Salvation Army has Angel Tree, while Mary & Jerry’s helps the Tippecanoe Valley School District with its toy and food giveaway. The Syracuse Food Pantry assists Syracuse residents in need with its Adopt-A-Family program.
CCS Director of Emergency Assistance Peggi Lisenbee-Wright said the agencies will share their names to avoid duplication of families receiving help.
“It’s so everyone can have a Christmas and not just one family,” she said.
This isn’t the first year the agencies have coordinated their efforts.
“We’ve always done that. It’s nothing new,” said Lisenbee-Wright. “It’s more we want people to know we want you to have a good Christmas, and your neighbor, too.”
On Nov. 2, CCS will have its sign-up for its Adopt-A-Family beginning at 9 a.m. The sign-up is for new families or families who have only participated in the program for a year. After Nov. 2, Lisenbee-Wright said, CCS will take agency referrals. Families can be adopted after Nov. 3.
“We’re trying to stop the huge duplication that happens,” she said.
“Our focus is we want to hit those families that are really in need,” Locke said.
Sign-up for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree is Nov. 7-18. Times are 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. People can start assisting the Salvation Army with the families on the Angel Tree after Nov. 18.
Mary & Jerry’s Helping Hands has scheduled its toy and food giveaway for Dec. 22. Any family living in the Tippecanoe Valley School District needing helping for the holiday can show up. The phone number for Helping Hands is 574-353-1300.
The Syracuse Food Pantry contact phone number is 574-457-5450. The pantry assists families with a Syracuse address. Anyone needing help who lives in Syracuse should go to the food pantry there first before CCS.
The Toys for Tots program information will be announced by Officer Dave Morales at a later date.
“We’re Christian agencies,” said Lisenbee-Wright of CCS and Salvation Army, “and there’s no better time to show the love of Christ than at Christmas.”
“You can tell times are harder because people are more appreciative of what they’re getting,” Locke said.
