The Salvation Army has announced sign up dates for those wishing to register their children, ages newborn to 12 years old, to receive gifts from Carter County Angel Tree. People may also register to receive a holiday food box or Food City gift certificate for seniors.
Parents and guardians may register their children on Oct. 13 and 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Army National Guard at 128 Judge Don Lewis Blvd. in Elizabethton.
Parents must bring a photo ID, proof of children’s ages (birth certificate, shot record or current TennCare/BlueCare card), proof of income, proof of expenses, proof of address and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) letter. Last year, 775 Carter County children received gifts through the Angel Tree program.
At the same location, qualifying families and individuals will also automatically be registered to receive a Johnson City Press Christmas Food Box. The box will include 46 packages or cans of food items in addition to a 15-pound turkey, a 3-pound canned ham, 10 pounds of potatoes and three pounds of onions.
“Over the years we have given away more than 82,000 pounds of food,” said Martha Laws, with the Angel Tree and Christmas box programs.
She said that SNAP benefits usually come at the beginning of the month, so by the end of the month, families can get pretty low on food.
In the past six years, the Christmas box program has spent $608,700 on food from Second Harvest which at retail value, totals to approximately $1.25 million donated in the Tri-Cities. Last year, 480 food boxes were distributed in Carter County.
A $35 donation will provide enough food for a a family to make a traditional holiday dinner and several other nutritious meals.
Gifts may be mailed to Johnson City Press Christmas Box of Northeast Tennessee, P.O. Box 1387, Johnson City, TN 37605. Laws said every penny goes to the boxes.
Additionally, seniors may register for a $35 gift certificate to Food City. Laws said they issued approximately 350 each year to help feed seniors in the Tri-Cities.
For more information, call Martha Laws at 423-282-5756.