Salvation Army

Salvation Army accepting requests for help Christmas is still a long way off but the Salvation Army of Hagerstown is already making preparations to assure that everyone's holiday season is merry. Applications for assistance will be taken every Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning Oct. 23 from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. The last day to apply is Dec. 4. Those applying for assistance at 541 George St. must bring the following information to establish eligibility: - personal identification - a social security card for each member of the family - proof of children's age by way of medical card, shot record or birth certificate - proof and source of income ... check stub, award letter, copy of check - current rent receipt, section 8 confirmation, cancelled check, copy of lease - any other financial information that might help in determining eligibility The Salvation Army's Angel Tree applications will only be taken until Nov. 24. For more information on either program and eligibility, call 301-733-2440.

Christmas Day started very early for many area volunteers who were willing to give up all or part of their holiday to help others have a better one. Starting at 5 a.m. for many, around 150 volunteers gave back for more than 500 people at the Franklin County Salvation Army Christmas dinner, held Saturday inside the Salvation Army lunch room on Lincoln Way West in Chambersburg. Lynne Newman, coordinator of the event for the past 19 years, said they also delivered about 220 meals to those who could not make it to the dinner.

HAGERSTOWN -- For her first year volunteering to distribute Christmas cheer for The Salvation Army in Hagerstown, Susan Johns landed a great "job" -- handing out $10 Martin's gift cards Monday to more than 1,100 families in need. "It's wonderful to see all these people in need being helped," Johns said. The distribution center at the former McCrory's in the Long Meadow Shopping Center was abuzz with activity all day Monday. As recipients entered, they were matched up with volunteers and shopping carts to navigate the aisles past tables bearing toys, gifts and food.

Applications for food and toys from The Salvation Army this Christmas will be accepted from Oct. 22 to Nov. 2 at 541 George St. in Hagerstown. Hours are weekdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. except for Oct. 23 and 30 when the afternoon hours will be extended until 7 p.m. Applicants for aid must bring personal identification, a Social Security card for each member of the family, proof of child's age by way of medical card, shot record...

The Salvation Army in Hagerstown spread holiday cheer Tuesday as volunteers and staff gave out food and in some cases gifts to more than 800 people. "Without this, I wouldn't make it to the end of the month," said Fred Myers, 64, who came for his holiday food package for the sixth year in a row. Ramona Gibbs who has four children ranging in age from 7 months to 8 years, said she needs help with food as well as putting gifts under the Christmas tree. "This is really telling me what Christmas is about," Gibbs said.

marlob@herald-mail.com No one is more aware that there are just eight days until Christmas than Capt. Butch Mallard of the Salvation Army in Hagerstown. "We are down about $10,000 this year and that's going to hurt long past Christmas," Mallard said Monday. Two major locations for kettles dried up, then there was a snowstorm followed by a damaging ice storm that kept shoppers at home. "We probably lost $5,000 because of those bad weather days," Mallard said.

At The Salvation Army of Washington County's annual appreciation dinner Thursday night, keynote speaker  Lt. Colonel Jack T. Waters called the nonprofit an organization of “second chances.” But Hagerstown resident Peggy Huff had her first chance to accept the volunteer of the year award after 36 years of service. “I didn't know I was getting this, I thought he was talking about somebody else. It kind of brought tears to my eyes,” said Huff, who started volunteering at the age of 23 and is now 60, after receiving her award.

The Washington County Commissioners voted 3-1 Tuesday to contribute $30,000 to The Salvation Army for a new multipurpose building at its headquarters in Hagerstown. The funds will be paid over two years from the county's hotel-motel tax fund and will go toward a gymnasium in the new building, the commissioners said. Cultural and recreational projects are among several designated uses for the hotel-motel tax. The Salvation Army plans to build the roughly 10,000-square-foot addition on the site of its current outdoor play area in the 500 block of George Street, Maj. Robert Lyle told the commissioners.

The Salvation Army has been a part of the lives of Robert and Georgia Henderson from the time they were children. Their parents ran Salvation Army facilities throughout the country, and the two grew up seeing how the organization works from the inside. Maj. Robert Henderson remembers his father's stints in New York City and Atlanta. His wife, Georgia Henderson, grew up in cities throughout the Southwest, including Oklahoma and Mexico City. "I can't hardly call one city my hometown," said Robert Henderson, who with his wife took over the The Hagerstown Corps of the Salvation Army last June.

WILLIAMSPORT - The first chili cookoff at Williamsport Retirement Village will benefit The Salvation Army, not to mention chili lovers. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10, participants will present their best recipes for beef, chicken, or vegetable chili at the Twin Oaks Assisted Living center. Residents, staff, family members and friends will be able to taste and sample the various chili recipes. A voluntary $5 donation will go to the Salvation Army to further assist their efforts for the community.