ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — The Salvation Army of Orange County will begin registering the first of the 2,000 families it hopes to help this Christmas. However, with a greater need and reductions in funding this year will be a challenge.
Families began lining up at the Salvation Army gymnasium on West Colonial Drive (see map) before dawn Monday. Registration for this year's toy shop and Angel Tree programs doesn't open until 1:00pm, but families began lining up for assistance at 4:00am.
On an average Monday, the Salvation Army receives about 400 calls just for rent, utilities, food and housing. The response is expected to be tremendous for Christmas assistance.
Last year, the Salvation Army was able to assist about 1,900 families and hopes to help the same number this year. But cuts from one foundation will make the non-profit more dependent upon individual donations this year, especially for older kids ages 13 to 17.
There are plenty of families counting on the Salvation Army this year. Families should know if they qualify for assistance before they leave Monday.
The Salvation Army will continue to take applications through Friday if they still have funds available to meet families' needs. To qualify, families must be Orange County residents and meet certain income requirements.
WFTV
