SALVATION ARMY
In 2010, Pamela Brooks signed up son La-Maricus for Christmas gifts through the Angel Tree program.
Given the growth in unemployment, poverty and home foreclosures, there can be little doubt that the holidays this year will be a trying time for a stunning number of Triangle families.
In September, 28,000 more North Carolinians were unemployed than in September 2010. This year, the Salvation Army of Wake County says it needs gifts for more than 7,700 children - up 2,200 over 2009. New Horizons Fellowship in Apex gave 1,616 needy children presents through its Christmas Store last year and is expecting more than 2,000 this year. In 2009, the group served just over 1,000 kids.
The need is so great that The News & Observer is bringing back its Guide to Giving and holiday challenge for a second year.
Starting today, local charities should update or fill out the online form at bit.ly/givingguide
- , listing what they need in donations and volunteer hours this holiday season for the communities they serve. The deadline is next Wednesday.
We'll put the Guide to Giving on our website Dec. 4 so readers can see what the charities are seeking. We'll also include a partial list in the print edition that day.
We challenged readers to give $10,000 to the 137 charities that responded. We were thrilled when you opened your hearts to the amazing sum of $43,614. Your efforts forced columnist Barry Saunders to dance the Electric Slide on The N&O's front lawn.
This year, our goal for you is $25,000. Reach it, and "Santa Saunders" and his considerable lap will be available for pictures at noon Wednesday, Dec. 21, in front of The N&O building.
You can help charities such as the Helping Hand Mission, where in less than three hours on one morning last week, more than 200 families signed up for Thanksgiving baskets.
"I tell you, it's unbelievable," mission director Sylvia Wiggins said. "We start at 9, and people were here at 7:30 this morning. They brought their kids. There were some people in wheelchairs. It's a definite need."
The mission has also signed up and assessed the needs of more than 700 families that have already asked for Christmas help. Wiggins said readers can donate money and goods, but the mission also will allow you to choose a family from the list to help directly.
You can reach the mission at 829-8048.
"Some people want to be anonymous, or a lot of times they want to meet up on our site," she said. "I had one lady who had all boys, and she said, 'If I can meet up with a family of boys,' so we matched them. It's been a lasting experience for all of them."
