News Details (Posted: November 28, 2005):

Salvation Army to distribute Christmas gifts

Full Description:

Salvation Army officials hope to distribute some 277,000 gifts to needy children in Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Denton and Tarrant counties between Dec. 16 and 22. “Christmas gifts will be distributed directly to needy families to help make their holiday season brighter,” said Public Relations Manger for the Salvation Army Patrick Patey. The gifts will be presented to adult family members by volunteers from companies, schools, civic clubs and community groups. According to Patey, 59,000 underprivileged individuals in the five counties received donated Christmas gifts. In the Christmas Assistance Program in McKinney last year, about 480 McKinney families were helped with their Christmas. This year, that number will increase to about 650, Patey said. The program provides gifts for the children that satisfy one need, one wish and clothing. A family gift is also given along with a Bible and a food voucher to a local grocery store for Christmas dinner. Patey noted that the most telling demographic about the area around the McKinney Salvation Army Center is that 50 percent of female-headed households are impoverished.