By Amanda Keister
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.
