In brief: Salvation Army needs volunteers to help rescue Christmas
Salvation Army needs help this holiday season
The Salvation Army of Spokane is in need of holiday volunteers to help “rescue Christmas” for local vulnerable families, many of whom have been hit hard by COVID-19 through lost jobs or reduced works hours.
Volunteer opportunities include the following:
Toy and gift organization: Help with moving toys and gifts from storage for Adopt-A-Family and Emergency Foster Care programs (Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Adopt-A-Family gift receiving and distribution: Help with receiving gifts (Dec. 14 and 15, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Adopt-A-Family gift distribution: Help withdistributing gifts (Dec. 17, 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
Food bank: Help pack food boxes, stock shelves, etc. (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Volunteers must be age 18 and up.
To register as a volunteer, visit makingspokanebetter.org and click on “Volunteer with Us.”
For more information, contact volunteer and event coordinator Joshua Schulz at Joshua.schulz@usw.salvationarmy.org or (509) 329-2721.
Salvation Army seeks sponsorsThis year more than ever, the Salvation Army of Spokane is seeking the public’s help to bring a Merry Christmas to many of our most vulnerable neighbors. Local businesses, organizations, churches or families can financially assist the Salvation Army in one or two ways:
Adopt-A-Family: 25 additional sponsors are needed to help adopt families for Christmas, as the Salvation Army anticipates serving around 100 families. Each sponsor is given the family’s wish list, and then purchases gifts for the family members, as well as a gift card for a Christmas Day meal. Visit goo.gl/forms/FAJXR89N4j4TM5zR2 to get signed up.
Giving Tree: Salvation Army Giving Trees are up through Christmas Eve at two JCPenney sites: NorthTown Mall, 4750 N. Division St., Spokane, and Spokane Valley Mall: 14730 E. Indiana Ave., Spokane Valley. Or to partake virtually, visit the Amazon WISH List at amzn.to/3nTlkqd to start shopping. Simply pick the gift you’d like to purchase and select The Salvation Army at check out. The gift is then delivered directly to the Amry’s Spokane campus and given out this Christmas. For more information, call (509) 999-9808 or email spokanechristmas@usw.salvationarmy.org.
Cookies with Santa at Five Mile Grange
Five Mile Prairie Grange will hold its annual event with Santa on Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. at its hall on Five Mile Prairie, located at the intersection of Strong and Five Mile roads.
The Grange’s annual Pancakes with Santa has been modified to an outdoor, drive-thru Cookies with Santa event, created with COVID-19 safety as a top priority. Bring your camera for photos of real live reindeer and of course, Santa Claus.
The Grange will be collecting nonperishable food items for the Mead Food Bank. For more information, email fivemilegrange@hotmail.com.
– From staff and local reports