December 14, 2007
NEWS RELEASE
2,764 children to receive toys via ‘Toys
for Tots’ program
Appleton - The Salvation Army - Fox Cities will again conduct its annual Christmas distribution
for their Adopt-A-Family and holiday toy
distribution programs. The distribution
days are December 18, 19 and 20. The
hours for each day are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the holiday toy and food
distribution programs. The Adopt-A-Family participants have
assigned pick up times between 9 am to 4 pm on Tuesday or Wednesday. All of the holiday assistance activities will
take place at the former Big Lots store, W3169 Van Roy Rd., Appleton near
Festival Foods off College Avenue.
“It’s so exciting to
see the looks on the parent’s faces as they are able to fulfill their
children’s Christmas dreams,” said Major Jose Tamayo, corps officer. “This is made possible by the generosity of
the people of the Fox Cities. Thank you
all for the much needed support.”
This free assistance
program is provided to income qualified individuals who were registered
previously. A total of 1,755 families
have assigned dates and times to pick up their Christmas assistance items. This
year 554 families are participating in the Adopt-A-Family
program and another 1,058 families enrolled in the general Salvation Army
Christmas assistance program along with 143 registered for the food only assistance.
This year the
Salvation Army will help to provide toys, games, hats and mittens, clothing and
assistance to: 157 newborn children, 1,924 children between the ages of one and
twelve and 683 teenagers for a total of 2,764 children. The toy distribution is supported by the
“Toys for Tots” program of the
The Salvation Army -
Fox Cities last month distributed over 5,000 winter coats to needy area
children during its annual Coats for Kids
assistance program.
Last year, the Salvation Army’s
Christmas assistance program, funded by the Red Kettles and public donations,
provided over 20,000 toys, books and games to children, Christmas food baskets
and gifts to 5,127 people along with
thousands of winter coats. A total of 2,417
people (564 families) were also assisted through the Adopt-Family-Program.
The Salvation Army has a $922,750
Christmas fund-raising goal for this year.
It accounts for up to 60 percent of the local Salvation Army’s operating
budget that is generated from public support.
These funds will be collected at red kettles, year-end corporate
donations and through a Christmas Mail Appeal.
They provide assistance to thousands of the area’s needy this Christmas
and will fund many of the Army’s year-round efforts to those in need in the Fox
Cities.
Donations may be
mailed to: The Salvation Army,
contributed on-line at:
www.safoxcities.org.
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