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Salvation Army Provides Brighter Christmas

Salvation Army Provides Brighter Christmas - Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 5:25PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday, Dec 22, 2009 @ 05:25pm EST
Williamsport, Lycoming County-

The Williamsport Salvation Army is doing its part to make sure hundreds of families in central Pennsylvania have a brighter Christmas.

Inside the former M&T Bank on Fourth Street, a steady line of people wait their turn to claim one of "Santa's Sacks" filled with toys.

Williamsport Salvation Army Major Marie Harris explained, "Parents will take it home and wrap it up and put it under the tree, and on Christmas morning, Santa Claus has come."

Santa Claus may get the credit, but this is a job even he couldn't do alone. Organizers tell us hundreds of volunteers have helped out with this effort, which we're told was in the planning stages way back in October.

Harris noted, "Churches and community volunteers, businesses will come over and lend a hand for an hour or so. And so it's a community effort."

Volunteer Jennifer Frantz, of Hughesville, recalled, "My youth group leader told me about it and she said they were low on help so I asked a few of my friends from home who didn't have school today if they would come out to help and they said they would."

Around the block at the Salvation Army gym, more volunteers load up boxes of food and pack them into people's cars to help with the holiday meal.

Joanne Joiner, of Williamsport, said, "I thank God for that. I thank God for the food. I thank God for letting me see another year, for being able to have a nice Christmas with my family and stuff."

In all, more than 900 families will benefit from the goodwill of this dedicated group.

Harris added, "I would just like to say thank you to our community for coming together to help their neighbors that are in need. It's a tough time for everybody."

For these volunteers, simple appreciation is the perfect reward.

Joiner concluded, "I just want to tell everybody Merry Christmas."

Salvation Army officials say they'll have a few leftover packages for last minute applicants seeking their help. Their office is on Market Street in Williamsport.
 


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