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FRZ.RAIN Temp: 30 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Sunday, December 1, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 26, 2002 D.R. Shaw of Eagle Point receives all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner from Salvation Army employee Nanci Caster while other recipients register at the Army�s Medford center Monday morning. The Army estimates that the need for Thanksgiving food boxe Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli The Salvation Army expects to distribute many more Thanksgiving food boxes this year By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Central Point neighbors Niki Addington and Laura Turner know all about working together to get by. Addington, 43, watches Turner’s 7-year-old son after school. Turner, 40, pools groceries with Addington and her 13-year-old daughter. And at 8 a.m. today, the women will go together to pick up Thanksgiving food boxes from the Salvation Army in Medford. "I normally try not to do that if I don’t have to," says Turner, who works full time and more as a sales associate at the Medford Wal-Mart. "But it’s rough this year, and I really need it." This holiday season seems tougher than others, the women say. And statistics back them up. Organizers at the Salvation Army expect to hand out 800 food boxes between Monday and Wednesday, about a third more than they distributed last year. Lingering local unemployment above 5 percent and a depressed economy are the primary factors behind the increased need, says Army Capt. Lisa Van Cleef. Families just aren’t rebounding from financial adversity, she says. People who haven’t needed assistance for a while are returning now for help, she says. "What I’m seeing is that about a third of our clients didn’t get holiday boxes last year and this year they are," she says. The boxes contain everything to make a traditional holiday dinner, from fresh vegetables, cranberries and rolls to a coupon for a free turkey from Food 4 Less in Medford. "We even give the eggs for the pumpkin pie," says Van Cleef. More than 4,000 pounds of the food was provided by ACCESS Inc. of Medford. The local Boy Scouts also donated supplies. The food will be a godsend, says Addington. Both women have plans with other family members on Thanksgiving Day, but they’ll use the supplies to make meals well beyond the holiday. "Without it, it would be a lot rougher," says Addington, a former cook, cashier and housekeeper who contracted rheumatoid arthritis and has been unable to work for a year. She now receives disability payments of $700 a month. But rent is $500 and there are all those other household expenses: utilities, gas, clothes and, of course, food. "When you’re a single mother, you do what you have to do," says Addington, who also has a 23-year-old son. "My kids never went hungry. When you realize you’ve kept a roof over your head consistently, you’re proud of that." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S