How to get charity meals, toys, & clothes for the holidays

By: | WSPA-TV
Published: November 03, 2008

Because of the bad economy, many more families will need help this holiday season getting meals, gifts, or warm clothes and blankets. Local charities are gearing up for the growing demand. The time is now to make sure your family is on reservation lists for some of these services.

The Salvation Army of Greenville is getting ready to start taking applications from families who need toys and clothes for their children this holiday season.

Said Pam Garcia with Salvation Army of Greenville, "Last year we helped over 1600 children and this year we're anticipating those numbers to grow with the economy that we're in right now."

Families can apply at the First Carolina Expo Center Tuesday through Friday. You'll need social security cards for each member of your family, a DSS household summary, income verification, photo ID's, and birth certificates for each child.

The United Way in Greenville says families can get holiday meals through Project Host and Greer Relief is offering food baskets and toys. Call the United Way of Greenville at 467-3300 for information.

The Soup Kitchen in Spartanburg says they expect to serve 1200 Thanksgiving meals this year. That's up from 950 last year.

You can also reserve a Thanksgiving dinner for your family through the Feed the Community program. Said Chris Steed with the United Way of the Piedmont, "This group of local angels will be providing hot meals to families either at the soup kitchen or at another satellite location, or they will deliver the meals to people's homes."

Call the United Way of Spartanburg at 582-7556. The United Way can also direct you to agencies that can help you pay utility bills.

Many charities say the demand for their services is growing and they need more donations and volunteers to keep up. Said Pam Garcia with the Salvation Army of Greenville, "Donations in general have been a little slow and we're just hoping the public will find it in their hearts."

Many local churches also offer meals, clothes or toys to families in need. Be sure to ask churches in your community.