Tis the season when churches, local food banks and other local groups spring into action.
This Thanksgiving, The Ticker explores a few of them, some of which have been around for decades, while others are doing good as relative newcomers.

Salvation Army
Perhaps the most familiar of such groups, due to the seemingly ubiquitous bell-ringers. Local officer Envoy Greg Irwin says the organization raises 70 percent of its funds during the holidays. “Our toy shop distribution (helps) over 800 families in the three-county area,” he says.

While the organization works to provide happy holidays for families, its mission is year-round, and goes beyond gifts. “It’s not just (for) presents under the tree for the kids, but keeping a roof over those kids’ heads,” says Irwin. The Salvation Army operates several outreach efforts locally. They include a market place, community meals and assistance with fuel, utilities and other essentials.

It was founded in London in 1865 by William Booth, whose street ministry The Christian Ministry morphed into the Salvation Army in 1878. Today it has a worldwide membership of over 1.7 million. 

The local Salvation Army is currently down slightly from 2023 projections. “The biggest thing is getting bell ringers,” says Ruth Blick, director of community resource development. “Things pick up after Thanksgiving.” Go to registertoring.com for more info.

Paper Angels
Paper Angels debuted 18 years ago when then local radio disc jockey Jack O’Malley heard the song “Paper Angels.” Performed by Jimmy Wayne, it was all about his memories of Christmas in foster care. O’Malley took the idea behind the song of a Christmas giving program to Child and Family Services (CFS), where it was immediately embraced.

Today, the program continues to assist families and individuals in the region. Emma Smith, who coordinates the program as part of the CFS development team, says the organization collect wish lists from the community, foster care, clients and former clients and other sources. “We also partner with Bethany Christian Services serving refugees from Ukraine,” she says.

Last year, they served 550 lists across 20 counties in northern Michigan. Donors are provided a list, shop and then take the items to CFS where they are distributed.

“We are so grateful for the community’s support. We have more donors than wish lists,” says Smith. Shesays they have secured donors for 450 wish lists; she estimates there are still around 70 left, but there will be more as wish lists continue to come in. 

“We encourage people to give money to our angel list. Kids have needs all year long,” she says. “The drop-off day is Dec. 2, but kids don’t stop coming in.” Having money set aside enables Smith to be able to shop or purchase gift cards up to the last minute.

For information on the program, go to cfsnwmi.org.

Adopt A Soldier Sailor
“We are in our 19th year,” says founder and coordinator Marilyn Dear. She was a youth director at Church of the Living God. When some of the members of its youth group graduated from high school and entered the military, the church sent them a monthly box with protein bars, microwave popcorn, hygiene products and other materials.

When one of them returned the next spring, he said he received more packages from the church than all the members of his squad put together. That kick-started Adopt a Soldier for Christmas, which debuted the following year. Dear says they adopt their own soldiers and the soldiers’ squad, unit, or platoon. While one year it topped 1,000, it’s typically been between 20 and 50 soldiers.

It’s taken on a different flavor this year, as the “soldier” is a “sailor.” When the USS Gerald R. Ford was suddenly routed to the Middle East due to the war between Israel and Hamas, Dear and her colleagues decided to adopt the entire complement of those aboard – between 1,000 and 1,500 sailors.

They are collecting at various locations. Besides food items, they’re collecting deodorant, cough drops, Tums and small toys and games. Local dentists have donated toothpaste, toothbrushes and floss, while students at ten area schools wrote letters. They also donated over 800 pounds of their Halloween candy. Grand Traverse Container donated 130 20x20x20 boxes.

The program runs through Nov. 27. Dear says they currently have 800+ pounds of Halloween candy, short of their goal of providing 1,500 bags.

She also hopes to get 120 people to donate $100 each for funding to mail the boxes; so far they have 17. She’s also hoping to find someone with connections to Hefty, Ziploc or other zipper plastic bags to pack the individual goodies in, as they need 1,500 each of one- and three-gallon bags.

Those needing information or wishing to assist can contact Dear at mdear815@gmail.com.

Toys For Tots
The organization dates to 1947, when Diane Hendricks asked her husband, Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, to deliver them to an agency that supported children in need. When told he couldn’t find one, she instructed him to found one. Hendricks and the Marines in his reserve unit in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys in 1947. It became a national organization the next year.

Mike Kent, who serves as assistant coordinator of the program locally to his wife Maggie, says this is the 26th Toys For Tots campaign in the region. As it is supported nationally by the Marine Corps Reserve, Kent says this area’s effort is unusual in that it is run by civilians. “Most are run by Marine Corps Reservists,” he says.

“It has grown exponentially,” he says, noting that last year it supported 5,672 children, distributing 26,044 toys. He says it is too soon to tell how much those numbers will change this year.

More important than the numbers, he says, is the impact it has. He says when the toy bus was parked in front of Meijer, a woman in a van that had seen better days pulled up. “It was filled with toys. She said, ‘Last year I needed help and this year I’m giving back.’ That said to me it’s exactly why we do what we do. We’re restoring dignity. We see that all the time.”

The program runs through Dec. 17. Click here for information and where to donate.