ISSUE: Holiday relief

OUR VIEW: Requests illustrate the scope of need in 2008

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton's report on Page A1 today cuts to the root of the matter: Christmas relief efforts this year are really, really about relief.

The requests coming to Orangeburg County's two major efforts, the Salvation Army and the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots, illustrate the scope of the need. Many children and their families are asking for food and clothing, not toys.

Times have been tough before, and letters from children to both programs in past years have shown similar priorities. It's just that there are so many more such requests this time around. That may be more a measure of how many people are struggling than any unemployment number.

"They're not just looking for toys. Some are very up front in saying, 'My child needs winter clothes,'" said Capt. Tomeker Williams of the Salvation Army.

"We have roughly 200 families for assistance with our Angle Tree project. The tree is put up at the mall, and we need angels to be adopted. We've had a small amount get adopted thus far," Williams said.

"We've had a lot of outside families that need help with Christmas toys, but there are those that just need food -- and not just for the holidays. There are people coming every day for food," Williams said.

The local Toys for Tots effort for years was under the wing of the Red Cross chapter here. That changed this year when the agency dropped the program and ousted longtime leader Cindy Smith.

Thankfully, that has not meant an end to the effort. Smith is leading the program as a private citizen, with the help of a number of individuals and businesses.

"Already we have over 135 families who have applied for holiday help for their children and before the program ends we expect at least another 135 families," Smith said. "The community has been absolutely wonderful. We have so many individuals, businesses and organizations to thank for making this program possible this year."

Jim Bethune and Century 21 the Moore Group have donated the space for "Santa's Workshop," Alltel has donated two cell phones, Orangeburg Security Systems has donated a security system to keep the toys safe, Sir Williams is sponsoring a tournament to benefit our children, Capital Ambulance is having a toy drive, Zeus Industries and Albemarle continue to be major sponsors of the program, Holy Trinity and the Rotary Club are just two of the organizations that "adopt" many children, and the Bootleg Militia held its 20th toy run to support the program on Dec. 6.

The two organized programs are not the only way people can share for the holidays, but they do offer reliable ways for individuals to reach out to those most in need.

Toys for Tots needs volunteers to help with duties such as distribution of items and collection of donations. Smith can be reached 682-3048 or by email at cbs1008@aol.com. The deadline to donate toys is Dec. 11. If you would like a Toys for Tots box to collect toys, call or email cbs1008@aol.com. If you can make a monetary donation, mail to Toys for Tots, P.O. Box 2031, Orangeburg SC 29116

For further information on how to help the Salvation Army, call 803-534-0785.

When you are in need, where do you turn? For many it is not easy to ask for help? Yet the holidays are about sharing and giving. Bringing those in need and those who have the ability to help together is what these programs are about. Help if you can.

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