Salvation Army helps those in need this Thanksgiving
Published 6:45 am Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Many families were out grocery shopping early this week with Thanksgiving recipes in hand.
The Salvation Army offered a similar opportunity to 408 families Tuesday — sending them home with free turkeys and a few fixings for Thursday’s holiday feast.
“The need is really up, and we are happy to be able to offer this service,” said organizer Lori Blanton, a Salvation Army case worker.
Blanton said there were 379 applications for Thanksgiving baskets last year. Up until last year, the Salvation Army averaged 250 baskets a year, she said.
“Churches had drives, and the community really helped. The Salvation Army did purchase some turkeys too to meet the 408 needed,” Blanton said.
Everyone who filled out an application received a turkey, and was able to pick out their own sides. Stuffing mix, canned vegetables, pie filling, corn muffin mix, sweet potatoes, squash and Jell-O mix were among the offerings.
The University of Minnesota extension office had a table set up in the food bank to offer food safety tips too.
With 100 turkeys left to give out, the Salvation Army was low on several items and out of a few things.
Blanton said everyone would go home with at least a turkey and a few cans of vegetables.
One of many volunteers Tuesday was Blanton’s 12-year-old son Caleb Middleton and his friend Sam Weis, 12.
“I helped sort out food, and it was a lot of fun,” Weis said.
“It feels good to help out others,” Middleton said.
He continued, “It is a responsibility for me too, to try to make sure that everyone can have a happy Thanksgiving… It’s kind of what it’s all about.”
The Salvation Army also serves a free Thanksgiving meal Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is also free meal delivery for Austin residents who cannot leave their homes. Contact the Salvation army to sign up for delivery at 433-6211.
The organization will also offer Christmas Baskets in conjunction with HyVee’s Feed A Family program. Applications for Christmas Baskets are due Dec. 10, and they can be filled out at the Salvation Army Food Bank, 209 Fourth St. NE.
