Published June 27, 2009 12:40 am - — Bells will be ringing during Jefferson Days to help fill The Salvation Army Jefferson Service Unit “watering cans” for the back-to-school clothing program.
Fill watering cans at Jefferson Days for back-to-school clothing program
By ELLEN KOLMAN - Staff Writer - ekolman@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
JEFFERSON — Bells will be ringing during Jefferson Days to help fill The Salvation Army Jefferson Service Unit “watering cans” for the back-to-school clothing program.
Watering cans are used in the summer, red kettles are only used at Christmas time.
Each year the Jefferson Service Unit has provided school clothes shopping money for more than 100 children living in the Jefferson, Dorset and Rock Creek zip code areas.
“Some years we have been able to provide as much as $50 or $60 worth of shopping for each child,” said Gordon Emerson, The Salvation Army Jefferson Service Unit chairman.
The Salvation Army Jefferson Service Unit is located at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Jefferson.
“Last year we were only able to provide $35 worth and it could be less this year since the reserved funds in past years have been supplemented by donations specifically earmarked for the program, Emerson said. “This year, so far, there have been no donations from community organizations, churches or individuals.”
But, there is hope. Like other years, during Jefferson Days, there will be bells ringing and watering cans available at Jefferson Golden Dawn and Thorne’s Bi-Lo from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., today.
“Most of the children receiving assistance through the back-to-school clothing program are the children of single mothers earning minimum wage and children being raised by grandparents on a limited income,” Emerson said.
This year many families who are likely to apply for the clothing program have experienced a job loss because of the economic downturn.
“Whether this program can be continued another year will be determined by the response of the kettle drive in November and December,” he said. “If the total is not a great deal above the response during the past holiday season, we probably will not be able to reserve money for the back-to-school program.”
Anyone wanting to donate to the “back-to-school clothing program,” mail contributions to The Salvation Army Jefferson Service Unit at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 89 E. Satin St., Jefferson.
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