Salvation Army Christmas program provides presents to children in need for the holidays
By Correne Martin
Families wishing to apply for Christmas assistance through the Crawford County Salvation Army are encouraged to do so by Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. Applications have been distributed to every school district in the county. They are also available through Crawford County Human Services and at the Salvation Army office, 625 S. Dousman St. (inside the Prairie du Chien United Methodist Church).
The Salvation Army’s Christmas assistance program, subsidized by specific contributions from public sponsors, is available for people 16 and under only, a stipulation changed just this year.
“It’s still fine for adults to indicate they need food, toiletries or household cleaning supplies, but they can’t ask for gifts for themselves,” explained Jen Kapinus, Crawford County Salvation Army coordinator.
Also new this year, people cannot ask for electronics as gifts.
In filling out an application, names and ages must be provided along with a wish list for those children named. New applications receive priority. Information is kept completely confidential.
Interested sponsors are paired with a family and, then, they go out and shop for gifts on the family’s wish list. Sponsors may include individuals, organizations and businesses throughout Crawford County. Families in need range from one child to as many as six children and, Kapinus said, she is willing to work with sponsors to find a family that fits their budget.
“There’s no minimum or maximum to be spent. Sponsors are given a wish list as a guide but they can spend as much or as little as they want,” Kapinus said. “We prefer they wrap the presents if possible.”
All sponsors’ gifts should be dropped off at the Salvation Army office by Monday, Dec. 12.
The Christmas program started in the county in 2010 with only six families. In 2015, 71 families were assisted through the Christmas program. That included 181 kids and 88 adults. Though 17 families were not sponsored, a designated pot of money from the seasonal Red Kettle Campaign was used to purchase presents for those individuals.
So far, all children on applications have received presents. Kapinus said.
Once sponsors leave their gifts and Kapinus shops for those not sponsored, ladies from the Prairie du Chien United Methodist Church volunteer to wrap any that aren’t already enclosed in beautiful holiday wrap. Then, they are organized and bundled for delivery.
Presents through the Salvation Army’s Christmas assistance program are delivered to families the week before Christmas.
“It’s such a big job. But it’s so wonderful,” Kapinus said. “I’ve seen grown men crying because they’re so thankful for this.”
Sponsors and families are both encouraged to contact the Salvation Army, at the address above or at 326-8321 (mornings), with interest in sponsorship or to submit applications for families in need.
