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It takes a small army

Salvation Army seeking help for the holiday season

LOOKING FOR HELP — Capt. Steve Griffin, commanding officer of the Salvation Army of Steubenville, checks out the status of canned goods in stock for distribution to the needy this Christmas. The busy holiday season is approaching with applications to receive food and toys being taken beginning Monday. - Janice Kiaski

STEUBENVILLE — It takes a small army of sorts to help the Salvation Army of Steubenville, especially come holiday time, according to Capt. Steve Griffin, commanding officer along with his wife, Capt. Dolly Griffin.

“We need the community support, and our area is a very giving area,” Griffin said during a recent interview in his office at the Salvation Army located at 332 N. Fourth St., where Christmas applications will begin to be taken over the next two weeks.

Families and individuals without children seeking assistance can apply there from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and also during the same times from Oct. 31 through Nov. 4.

Those seeking assistance must reside in Steubenville, Brilliant, Mingo Junction, Amsterdam, Rayland, Richmond or Wintersville. Adults must provide a photo identification and proof of address, such as a utility bill, along with proof of income and expenses. Identification for a child would include a birth certificate or a benefit card, for example.

Food and toys for children up to age 14 are the focus of the Salvation Army for Christmas, but Griffin pointed out that “Some people have the impression they have to have children to apply (for food.)”

A normal year brings about 150 applications, and Griffin said he anticipates about that or maybe slightly higher.

Either way, there are a variety of needs and ways area residents, businesses, churches and organizations can help from Thanksgiving through the new year as the agency prepares to meet the needs that such a busy season poses.

Among the holiday programs are:

¯ THE KETTLE CAMPAIGN: Volunteers are needed to help ring bells and be at various locations for the kettle campaign that begins Nov. 4 at Riesbeck’s in Wintersville from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays and Tuesdays. It will be conducted at Rural King in Steubenville from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, starting Nov. 7; at the Wintersville and Steubenville Kroger locations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, starting Nov. 19; and at Wal-Mart from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, starting Black Friday, Nov. 25.

The kettle campaign runs through 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and overall is hoped to raise $47,000, Griffin said.

¯ THANKSGIVING DINNER: A free community dinner available to all will be held at the Salvation Army from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 24. Anyone is welcome to dine in or get take-outs. Griffin said more than 700 were served last year.

¯ GIFT WRAPPING STATION: Volunteers are needed for the gift-wrapping booth at the Fort Steuben Mall that will be available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. It will begin Nov. 28 and continue through Dec. 23, allowing people to have gifts wrapped for a donation. The booth will be by the mall customer service station.

¯ CHRISTMAS DISTRIBUTION: The Christmas distribution will be held on Dec. 20, beginning at 9 a.m.

¯ NEW YEAR’S DAY DINNER: Like the Thanksgiving dinner, the New Year’s Day dinner also is a community meal open to all. It will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be no deliveries but people can dine in or get carryout.

Information on any of the programs is available by calling the Salvation Army at (740) 282-5121.

Griffin said another program is Coats for Kids, with outerwear available for newborns to high school seniors. To make an appointment, contact Griffin the week of Nov. 7 at (740) 282-5121.

The Salvation Army’s year-round food pantry continues to have high use and is in particular need of nonperishable cans of vegetables and fruits, according to Griffin. The food pantry is open from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 to 3 p.m. weekdays. From June through August, it provided 9,099 meals.

Monetary donations to the Salvation Army can be earmarked to specifically help any food or holiday program with a mention in the memo line. Checks can be made out to the Salvation Army and mailed to P.O. Box 1226, Steubenville, OH 43952.

“It’s a wonderful community,” Griffin said of support shown in the past.

(Kiaski can be contacted at jkiaski@heraldstaronline.com.)

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