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Salvation Army prepares for holiday assistance program
[October 02, 2012]

Salvation Army prepares for holiday assistance program


CHAMBERSBURG, Oct 01, 2012 (Public Opinion - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The Salvation Army of Chambersburg is preparing for the holiday season by taking applications for assistance later this month.

Applications for food and toys will be taken on Oct. 22 and 29 from 2 to 7 p.m., as well as Oct. 23, 24, 30 and 31 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Salvation Army office, 159 Lincoln Way West.

"We do it to help out the community, the ones that are in need," said Charity Bender, program assistant.

The program is designed for families with children younger than 13. Families whose applications are approved will receive assistance for holiday toys and food in December.

"We help them out with so much, making sure that each family has what they need for Christmas morning," Bender said.

Those looking to apply need to bring a photo ID for the head of the household and then some form of ID for all other household members, Bender said.

Additionally, since assistance can only be received from one agency, they ask that applicants be honest and only apply to one place, she said.

Along with ID, applicants will be required to show proof of all income and expenses, Bender said.



"There are people here that decide on whether or not they get accepted," she said. "It depends on what their expenses are and their income." Income includes pay stubs, food stamps, cash assistance, child support and Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability.

Expenses include phone (cell or home, not both), rent or mortgage receipts, all utility bills (gas and electric, fuel/propane, cable, trash, sewer and water), car payment and car insurance costs.


The amount of applicants varies from year to year but seems to be growing over the past few years, Bender said.

"You never know until it happens," she said. "You never know until you get all the applications done." For more information, call the Salvation Army at (717) 264-6169 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

---- Samantha Cossick can be reached at [email protected] and 262-4762.

___ (c)2012 the Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Pa.) Visit the Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Pa.) at www.publicopiniononline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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