Santa Fund gets early start on sign-ups

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By DALE VINCENT

New Hampshire Union Leader Staff

4 hours, 59 minutes ago

MANCHESTER – Christmas is three months away, but concerns about an increased need for assistance this year have prompted an early start date for applications to the New Hampshire Union Leader Santa Fund for the Salvation Army.

Salvation Army Maj. Joyce Hartshorn expects the economy may force some families to seek assistance for the first time. "My greatest concern is for people who can't do anything about increasing costs," Hartshorn said.

People who sign up for holiday assistance don't have the option to earn more money to offset increasing food and fuel prices, she said.

"These are people who don't have disposable income," Hartshorn said, adding she'd recently met a woman in the grocery store who was having to choose between eating and driving to work.

In this economy, so many of the parents who sign up for holiday assistance have lost overtime or even their jobs, exhausted any unemployment benefits or are just squeaking by before food, gas and heating costs began their sharp increases.

Those financial stresses often are worsened by illness, car problems, rent increases, or even just a child's growth spurt that suddenly necessitates new shoes, boots, clothes and a new winter jacket.

Because the Santa Fund is made up of private donations, large and small, from individuals, companies and organizations, the Salvation Army can determine eligibility for assistance.

Hartshorn said that signing up early can ease parents' anxiety as the holidays approach.

Despite the state of the economy, Hartshorn has faith that those who are able to share will do so.

"We anticipate the community will continue to respond. There is a phenomenal record of response," she said.

The Salvation Army gives parents attending the annual Santa Fund Toy Shop packs of socks and underwear for their children, plus hand-knitted hats and mittens.

How to sign up

What: New Hampshire Union Leader Santa Fund for the Salvation Army.

When: Sign-ups for Manchester, Bedford and Litchfield residents will be Oct. 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Nov. 4, 5, 6 and 7, 9 a.m. to noon. Evening hours for working families, who need to bring a pay stub, will be Oct. 7 and 8 and Nov. 4 and 5, 7:30 to 9 p.m. at The Salvation Army, 121 Cedar St.

What to bring: Applicants must bring to the sign-ups positive identification for all household members, with birth certificates or Medicaid cards for children and a driver's license, non-driver ID or visa for adults. They must bring proof of all income, such as employment check stubs, child support, TANF, food stamps, Social Security and veteran's benefits. Proof is required for all expenses, such as rent or mortgage, oil, gas, electric, telephone, cable, child care, child support, medical, car and insurance payments and student loans.

No children: Maj. Joyce Hartshorn said no children will be admitted at any of the sessions, so applicants need to make child care arrangements, especially on Election Day, Nov. 4, when school is not in session. Hartshorn said the ban on children may seem harsh, but the setting is not suitable for children, especially because there are often long waits.

Although faithful knitters have filled three cartons with hats and mittens so far, Hartshorn said there's a need for donations of new socks and underwear, with boxers more popular than briefs. Hartshorn is asking Santa Fund contributors who want to do more to consider donating packages of new children's socks or underwear, or new washable twin-size blankets.

Hartshorn said the clothing and bedding donations can be dropped off at the Salvation Army's headquarters at 121 Cedar St.

The Salvation Army also has more than 300 heavyweight fleece blankets that need a finished edge. The blankets are sewn on two sides, but Maj. Greg Hartshorn is looking for volunteers to add piping or decorative edge finishes all around the 6-by-6 blankets.

He said the plan is to give the blankets to seniors, to tuck around themselves while sitting in cooler homes or to throw on their beds at night.

Maj. Joyce Hartshorn said anyone on a fixed income will be challenged this year with the high cost of heating, fuel and food prices.

She said that is why it's even more important this year for all of us, donors and recipients, to focus on needs ahead of wants. Although parents want to give their children toys and games, she said: "What do they really need?"

That's what your donations to the Santa Fund will help provide.

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