Charities: Remember reason for season

CINDY WOOD/independent feature writer

Times are tough. That’s no surprise. Despite Van Wert County’s unemployment rate falling slightly in recent months, many local families are still struggling just to make ends meet.

It’s a stressful situation for many parents who are just relieved to put food on the table. Add to that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and some families simply feel overwhelmed.

Local charities are important to communities year round, but their role in the community becomes even more evident during the holiday season.

It’s all the Salvation Army can do to keep up with the increasing need in Van Wert County. According to Major Art Barter, the number of people needing assistance has grown tremendously, and continues to grow daily. “Our stats have more than doubled,” Barter said, adding that the agency is assisting many new clients who previously did not need assistance. “We’re going to be well over three hundred families just for Christmas,” Barter said. “There are just a lot of people needing help right now more than ever, and we’re having to do more with less.”

Other agencies have stepped up to fill the need as well. The Council on Aging, which serves senior citizens in Van Wert County, has partnered with WERT Radio and Van Wert Bedrooms for the Grateful Hearts Giving Tree. Similar to the county’s Caring is Sharing program, the giving tree, located at Van Wert Bedrooms, is full of names of senior citizens who could use some Christmas cheer.

“Many of us are fortunate to have families we can get together with for the holidays, but we can’t forget that there are senior citizens in our community who will be alone on Christmas,” said Tomi Jaycox of WERT. “The Grateful Hearts Giving Tree allows members of the community the opportunity to put a smile on a senior citizen’s face during the holidays,” Jaycox added.

Those interested in helping can choose an ornament from the tree, purchase a gift, wrap it, and drop it back off at Van Wert Bedrooms. Gifts will be distributed to seniors the week before Christmas.

Another local agency helping out during the holidays is Toys for Tots, which is coordinated locally through the Van Wert Navy Club. The mission is Toys for Tots is to collect new, unwrapped toys during the holiday season, and distribute those toys to needy children. Locally, the Toys for Tots campaign will accept monetary donations, as well as donations of new toys, to be delivered to children during the holiday season.

The Salvation Army also conducts the Caring is Sharing program, which provides food assistance, as well as toys for children. Helping to supplement that program is the kettle campaign, and Barter said the agency hopes to raise $40,000 through the kettles consumers will find outside local retail stores.

Applications for assistance can be picked up at The Salvation Army and more information can be obtained by calling 419.238.9100. Applicants are asked to bring information on income and expenses. “That helps us determine how needy a family is, and also helps us to be better stewards for our donors,” Barter said, adding that distribution day for Caring and Sharing is December 21 and 22 at The Salvation Army.”

Distribution will be handled through appointments.

Barter said the programs receive much assistance from local businesses and churches, as well as volunteers. Those children who are not sponsored are assisted by organizations that purchase extra toys for those situations.

Barter stressed the increased need for families this year and said those who are able to provide assistance to the less fortunate this year should consider helping. Even though events like United Way’s Day of Caring provides food for the Salvation Army’s pantry, the cupboards do run dry, usually at the beginning of the year. “Even though we had record numbers this year from the Day of Caring drive, it will run out at some point,” Barter said, adding that churches have been extremely generous in bringing in food items for holiday food baskets.

Barter also said there is a tremendous need for winter coats. “We can always provide a voucher for the thrift store, but it’s just been really stretched out lately,” Barter said. “It’s becoming more like a Band-Aid than any substantial assistance. But we did run out of jackets and winter coats last month, and we’ve had families coming in looking for coats.”

Barter went on to say that the agency’s budget doubled from the previous year, and those numbers have already been met. “The need is tremendous this year,” Barter said. “If people are able and willing to help out, we would certainly appreciate it.”

For more information on the Salvation Army, call 419.238.9100. For more information on the Grateful Hearts Giving Tree, call 419.238.5011 and for more information on Toys for Tots, call 419.968.2654.