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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 22, 2005 Alanis Ruiz smiles after getting a thumbs-up from a friend for her choice of a gift bag Wednesday at the Salvation Army�s annual toy and food giveaway in Medford. A touch of Salvation Christmas distribution program brings necessities to Rogue Valley’s neediest By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune More than 700 needy families will have food and gifts for the holidays thanks to community donations to the Salvation Army. The organization’s Christmas distribution program will continue through today. Thousands of new toys, hundreds of unused clothing items and about 1,500 bags of groceries, including turkeys, will find their way into the hands of those who need them most. "It helps us out big time," said 35-year-old Tim Cramer Wednesday as he strapped a turkey and sack of potatoes onto his Hercules bicycle. Stuffing, potato salad, rolls, cranberry sauce, fresh apples and oranges are on the Christmas menu for families who receive food from the Salvation Army. Their grocery bags also include staples like crackers, cereal, pasta and canned goods to sustain them after the holidays are over. Advertisement Crystal Beachler, 27, collected fixings to feed her family of seven, including her disabled mother-in-law. She also brought home a stuffed toy, books and a puzzle of the United States for her 6- year-old son. The Salvation Army encourages parents to pick out gifts without their children to "maintain the integrity of the family," said Maj. Marv Samuelson. A selection of gift wrap and gift bags complete each family’s Christmas package. "... The parents get to shop for their own children," said Carrie Hanson, Salvation Army development director. The vast majority of items available in the organization’s Toy and Joy Center were donated. Local businesses and their patrons filled 25 "angel trees" with items that the Salvation Army requested. Individual donors adopted 95 families for the holidays. Other donations literally showed up on the faith-based organization’s doorstep. "The rest of the community just stepped forward," Hanson said. What wasn’t donated, the Salvation Army purchased. Money raised during the annual Red Kettle Drive helps pay for additional holiday items but is also crucial to assisting those in need throughout the rest of the year, Samuelson said. Kettle donations are lagging about $4,000 behind Wednesday’s total last year, Hanson said. With 23 little red pots in various spots around the valley, the drive collected about $95,000 in 2004. The Christmas distribution program takes place at the Salvation Army Church, 304 Beatty St., Medford, until about 2 p.m. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail A touch of Salvation ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s