Pandemic-pinched Salvation Army chapter needs help to provide holiday services - Houston Chronicle

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Many businesses, retail establishments and community groups have had to curb operations because of the coronavirus pandemic. But because of the needs of those it serves, the Salvation Army East Harris County doesn’t have the option to postpone or cancel services.

The nonprofit organization in Pasadena seeks donations of food, toys and money to continue meeting needs as it heads into the holiday season, according to Lt. Luis Villanueva.

Trucks need gas to deliver meals to seniors, hot meals need to be prepared for struggling families and gifts for children and senior adults are needed for Christmas, he said.

The group’s service area includes Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte, Baytown, Channelview, Webster and Friendswood.

Calling for online contributions

The Salvation Army has established two websites for virtual giving this season, one for monetary donations and the other to support its children’s services. The site for monetary contributions accepts credit-card donations.

The East Harris County chapter has begun accepting children’s toys for Christmas, with 1,500 children already on a waiting list to receive gifts.

How to help

The Salvation Army East Harris County is seeking contributions and volunteer help during the holiday season.

Address for toy donations: 2732 Cherry Brook Lane, Pasadena. Donations are being accepted through Dec. 11.

Online donations:pasadena.virtualkettle.org

To ‘adopt” a child for Christmas:pasadena.virtualangel.org

To volunteer:salvationarmyhouston.org/volunteer

More information:East Harris County Facebook, 713-378-0020

Because of layoffs forced by the pandemic, the Pasadena location is down to just a handful of staff members, and that small group has been working overtime to provide all the things the Salvation Army does during normal circumstances.

“We lost between 10 and 12 employees, we have five people on staff and we’re doubling our jobs to able to continue to serve the community,” Villanueva said.

The staff sees between 400 and 600 families every Monday for a mass drive-through distribution in addition to its established services, which include the food pantry and senior assistance programs, Villanueva said.

Looking for people to ring the bell

With donors such as local industry partners dealing with their own pandemic-related challenges, the biggest hole to fill has been monetary.

“We need all the support we can get financially,” Villanuev said.. “Our finances are going dramatically down.”

Money buys gas for the trucks that deliver these meals, Villanueva said.

The organization depends on volunteers, and those numbers have also dipped since the start of the pandemic in March. To offset that, the Salvation Army are asking for new volunteers to each dedicate four hours to ring the bell for its traditional Red Kettle campaign at locations throughout Pasadena. To volunteer, visit salvationarmyhouston.org/volunteer

Toys must be new can be dropped off at the East Harris County location until Dec. 11. The toys will be distributed to boys and girls from infancy through age 12.

“We’re not asking for X-Box, we’re not asking for bicycles or anything electronic,” said Villanueva. “We want to keep it simple, like Barbie dolls, toy trucks and cars.”

For Christmas, 200 senior adults have already been registered to receive gifts, and like the toy collection, the Salvation Army is keeping things simple, Villanueva said.

“Comforters, blankets, slippers, makeup, scarves, restaurant or grocery-store gift cards — seniors are not picky, they love whatever we can give them, and they appreciate it,” he said. “We want to keep it simple because the important thing is that they have something for Christmas.”

Approximately 150 seniors depend on the Salvation Army to receive daily meals through its Meals on Wheels program.

“We know families and donors are hurting right now, but if they give even just a small donation, it will be helpful,” Villanueva said. “All during COVID, we haven’t stopped serving, but we are truly hurting financially, too. So, I cannot stress that enough. If people want to donate on our website, if they want to volunteer with their families or business — that’s going to help us continue opening the doors to the community.”

yorozco@hcnonline.com

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