SUNBURY -- Food and gift distributions for the Salvation Army's Needy Family Fund began on Tuesday.
Dozens of clients lined up out the door of 343 Market St., the former location of Something Special Flower Shop, to receive food baskets, gift certificates to Valley grocery stores, coats, hats and gloves, and toys for their children.
Tammy Cook, 35, of Selinsgrove, collected for her children, Angelia, 16, Britney, 15, Logan, 11, and Haley, 8.
Ms. Cook, a single mother laid off from Yorktowne Cabinets, has used the Needy Family Fund for the past couple of years to provide a Christmas for her family.
"It's very difficult," Ms. Cook said. "All of my money I do get, it goes to bills."
This year, the Needy Family Fund will provide her family with a hearty meal, warm clothing and some special surprises from Santa.
"I thank God for the help. ... I really do appreciate what they do give," she said.
Senovia Ramirez has been organizing Sunbury's distribution for the past seven years -- all through volunteer hours.
Working around her on Tuesday were about 25 other volunteers from the Salvation Army, Shikellamy High School's Junior ROTC program, Northwest Academy and The Daily Item.
The Milton citadel of the Salvation Army will distribute items today.
Afternoon volunteers in Sunbury called out application numbers to other volunteers waiting in the back, who put together food baskets filled with canned fruit and vegetables, canned ham, pasta, cereal, crackers, bread and pie. Large families also received a turkey.
Families with children received bags of gifts, and many also took home bicycles and tricycles.
For Maj. Sharon Cupp, less than a year into her role as leader of the Sunbury citadel of the Salvation Army, the Needy Family Fund marks a change in roles.
"I remember when I was a kid and my mom didn't have a whole lot for us and she went to the Salvation Army," she said, "and what I see kids get today -- it's really a blessing."
Tears welled in her eyes. It's clear the mission of the Salvation Army is near to Ms. Cupp's heart.
"It's important to know that you can help some kids and make their day a little brighter," she said. "Here in the community, we take for granted what we have, but there are kids who are happy to just have heat in their homes."
With such a history with the Needy Family Fund distribution, part of the reason Ms. Ramirez continues to volunteer year after year is because she's got the system down.
And though the distribution site in Sunbury on Tuesday was humming with volunteers, she said volunteer recruitment for the event becomes more challenging every year, another reason she keeps coming back to help.
"The need for volunteers is great for such an important event to help families in need," she said.
Ms. Cook smiled as she rolled her Needy Family Fund items from Market Street, but the smile on her face clearly hid a sense of longing.
"I want to shop too, like anybody else," she said. "I don't want to have to struggle. I guess we all go through it once in a while."
n E-mail comments to akeister@dailyitem.com.
News
Related Photos
Discussion
A blessing
People line up for Needy Family Fund distribution
- News
-
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
Superintendent Mark DiRocco told the Lewisburg school board Thursday night that a proposed block grant system of school budget funding will run the district short of cash that will have to be made up through personnel and program cuts.
-
Mom: Keller's response left her cold
Like many people, Elise Nicol is concerned about Marcellus Shale and the industry's effects on Pennsylvania's environment. The Lewisburg mother of two cares about it enough that she sent an email to state Rep. Fred Keller, R-85 of Kreamer, asking him to oppose House Bill 1950, which passed the General Assembly on Wednesday.
-
Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations
Point Township Sewer Authority members Thursday night expressed concerns about a Feb. 3 letter sent to the Northumberland Sewer Authority by the state's Department of Environmental Protection saying that the borough authority has violated the Clean Streams Act.
-
Persing truck fee idea stalls
While Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing communities to collect impact fees in 35 counties, Northumberland County is not one of them, and business leaders and lawmakers do not think Sunbury Mayor David Persing's plan to try to do his own version of an impact fee will pass muster.
-
Barber draws a crowd
The talk can be spirited at times, ranging from hunting to sports to home repairs. "You hear all kinds of stories," Gene Koehler, of Riverside, said Thursday as he waited for a haircut at The Masters barbershop, 209 Mill St.
-
State board approves table games at Valley Forge casino
VALLEY FORGE — A casino resort scheduled to open this spring in the Philadelphia suburb of Valley Forge has been approved for table games.
-
Doctors telling more adults: Get out and exercise
ATLANTA — A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. A government survey found nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000.
-
Former Northumberland County judge and three others die in Florida crash
EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. -- A former Northumberland County judge was one of four people killed Wednesday afternoon when their car collided with a van at an intersection, according to the Naples News. The victims were identified as James J. Rosini, 66, William J. Rosini, 68, Patricia C. Rosini, 65, all of Coal Township, Pa., and Deborah A. Korbich, 59, of Elysburg, Pa.
-
Warden demotes four bosses
SUNBURY -- Northumberland County Prison Warden Roy Johnson was able to trim about $135,000 in expenses by demoting four supervisors. He said Wednesday that he found a way to cut costs without laying off any staff. "I cut out 120 hours of supervisors' pay each week, but I need to fill the correction officer positions," Johnson said.
-
DJ pumps up audience
Every Tuesday evening, Richard Grogg can be found spinning tunes at possibly the most well-attended dance in Snyder County. A resident at the Selinsgrove Center since 1988, the 57-year-old said the thing he likes most about selecting and playing music is "making people happy." "Some people come up and ask for requests," he said.
-
Agency closes adult center
PENNS CREEK -- Union and Snyder County caregivers have had to look farther and wider for another program that can offer respite because the Agency on Aging can no longer afford to provide the service. The adult daily living center at the Penns Creek Adult Resource Center was a helpful program each week to about eight adults from the area dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia. But it closed Dec. 30.
-
New Berlin pushes to acquire school
NEW BERLIN -- The Borough Council sold the property where the New Berlin Elementary School is to the precursor of the Mifflinburg Area School District for $1 back in 1950. It was deeded to the district for construction of a school.
- More News Headlines
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
