Holiday food baskets and more starting in area

The Salvation Army in Havre is spearheading a number of activities in the area to help people in need get through the holidays.

The Salvation Army-Havre Service Center Director Trina Crawford said her organization is teaming up with a number of groups including the Havre Food Bank, Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods and the U.S. Marine Corps to sign people up for and operate the annual Angel Tree, Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets, and Marine Toys for Tots.

Crawford said they are now taking applications for holiday food baskets, with the deadline to apply for that Nov. 15.

“We are excited to offer both Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets,” she said.

The baskets provide a full holiday meal, with turkey or ham, potatoes, rolls, side dishes and desserts.

Crawford said The Salvation Army works with Havre Food Bank on that project, and with the Hometown Hunger Food Drive put on by Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, where customers can make a cash donation at the checkouts of the grocery store and help pay for the baskets. She said excess funds from that drive also go to efforts to feed the community.

People can also make donations at the Food Bank, letting them know the donations are for the holiday baskets, or contact The Salvation Army to make donations.

And The Salvation Army applications also are for the Angel Tree and the Marine Toys for Tots, she said.

The Angel Tree, where people can take a notice of a child needing some help for Christmas, is for children younger than 13, and the Marine Toys for Tots is for ages 13-18.

The Angel Trees will go up at Walmart, North 40, Gary & Leo’s and The Salvation Army Family Store on the 300 Block of Third Street, she said.

And donations will be taken to help with those efforts, and Toys for Tots will be holding drives as well, she said.

On the Angel Tree, each child will be identified with a code and suggestions for a gift and sizes for clothes and coats and so on. People can pick a tag, buy the gifts, then bring them back to The Salvation Army by Dec. 14.

As well as applications, The Salvation Army is also looking for people to help with efforts, Crawford said.

She said two part-time positions are available at the office — it has short hours right now because of being short-staffed — and she also is looking for volunteers.

Some of those volunteers will be to help with the office and the holiday programs, and they also are needed as bell ringers for the upcoming Red Kettle Campaign, which sets the budget for social services in the next year.

Last year it raised $38,000 and Crawford said she hopes to get as much or more this year.

“The community was so generous. It’s nice to be able to give back to the community,” she said.

When the Red Kettle Campaign starts, locations will be at Walmart, North 40 and Gary & Leo’s, she said. A website also will be available for people to sign up for shifts.

She said to apply for the programs or for more information about donations, volunteering or applying to work, people can call The Salvation Army-Havre Service Center at 406-265-6411 to make an appointment or stop by at 328 Third St. during business hours, right now Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. to noon and Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

People can leave a message but need to make sure they speak clearly and leave a phone number, Crawford said.

People can also apply for the programs online at https://saangeltree.org by entering their zip code and filling out the application.

More information and volunteer signups are available online at https://havre.salvationarmy.org .