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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 21, 2006 Click image for larger view Steve Googe of Medford lost his job this year and says he wouldn�t be having a Christmas if it weren�t for the Salvation Army. The nonprofit organization distributed toys, food and clothes to families Wednesday during its annual distribution program. (Mail Tribune / Jim Craven) Salvation Christmas Hundreds of families receive toys, clothes and groceries in the Salvation Army's annual distribution program By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Last year, Steve Googe got a "really juicy bonus" for Christmas. Now out of work, the 46-year-old Medford resident is planning his family's holiday around a Salvation Army food box. "It's the first time I've ever had to get help from anybody," Googe said. "If it wasn't for this, we wouldn't have anything." About 700 other needy families received thousands of new toys, hundreds of unused clothing items and about 800 bags of groceries in the Salvation Army's annual Christmas distribution program on Wednesday. Families register for the help based on their income. Most families are living on welfare, said Maj. Carol Samuelson. Jami DeRoboam, 29, just started work at a local grocery store but not in time to stash away cash for the holidays. The Salvation Army allowed DeRoboam to pick out one toy or piece of clothing, one educational item, one stuffed animal, stocking stuffers and gift wrap for each of her children. Advertisement "I'm poor and proud of it," the Central Point resident joked as she put a stuffed Minnie Mouse and purple iguana into a sack. Grouped by age and gender, toys range from the "Princess Barbie" that DeRoboam snatched up for her 5-year-old "girly" girl to sporting equipment such as volleyballs and boogie boards. "It's just like a toy shop," Samuelson said. Toys for his 7-year-old granddaughter added to Googe's load. Because he doesn't have any transportation while his wife works, he stuffed everything into an Army surplus backpack for the trek home. The Salvation Army also helped his family pay rent and utilities last month. The community donated most of Wednesday's gifts directly to the Salvation Army, Samuelson said. The nonprofit group also aims to pick the neediest families for its annual "Adopt-a-Family" project, which included 75 households sponsored by individuals and businesses this year, she said. "They usually get really nice things," Samuelson said. What the public didn't donate, the Salvation Army purchased with funds from its annual Red Kettle Drive. The charity also depends on the drive to assist those in need throughout the coming year. A lack of volunteers, however, resulted in fewer kettles this year. With $79,000 collected so far, the drive lagged about $4,000 behind the same day's total in 2005, said Development Director Carrie Hanson. If volunteer bell-ringers don't step up, the Salvation Army pays low-income people — often seniors or the disabled — to man kettles, Hanson said. The charity put out 17 little red pots this year compared with the 23 last year that raised more than $95,000. The Red Kettle Drive runs through Dec. 23 at local Fred Meyer, Bi-Mart, Wal-Mart, Safeway and Albertsons stores, as well as Black Bird, Food 4 Less and Sherm's Thunderbird Market. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com