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The first snow has fallen, Thanksgiving is here and the holiday season is in full swing, welcoming a moment of joy, food and gifts, of course. But for some families in Howard County, the holiday season is a time of struggle.
Howard's branch of the Salvation Army, located in Ellicott City, is one of many organizations that has volunteered for its annual Angel Tree program.
The Christmas Assistance Program allows families with children from birth to 12 years of age to enroll as family angels and who are adopted by community members. Families receive three gifts and two outfits for each of their children as part of the program.
"We are helping these families and children have a better Christmas than they would otherwise have," said Sue Hunt, Howard's Director of the Salvation Army. "We help families to support their children."
The Ellicott City site has 488 families registered, Hunt said.
From Friday to December 8, the Salvation Army will have a table in the Columbia Mall to assign the remaining angels.
Hunt also has senior angels, those aged 55 and over who receive help during the holiday season. Senior angels receive a food box and a gift card, either in a grocery store or a big box store.
"We help just about everyone in need," said Hunt. "Even if they have no children in the age group."
A Christmas store occupies more than half of the store with mostly discounted thrift merchandise, said Hunt. The shop offers items such as Christmas trees, Christmas lights, train sets, toys and wrapping paper.
Howard's branch also participates in the Salvation Army's annual kettle program, which includes ringing bells outside department stores, grocery stores and other public spaces to raise funds for the organization. The funds are used to fund services throughout the year provided by the Salvation Army.
Ring tones will be available at all Giant supermarkets in Howard, as well as at Macy's and J.C. Penney stores in the Columbia Mall, as well as Walmarts stores in Ellicott City and Columbia.
Regarded as one of the richest counties in the country, Howard's median household income was $ 113,800 in 2016.
United Way released its annual ALICE report in September, according to which about one in four Howard households would earn less than the $ 85,800 "survival budget" needed to cover basic necessities – childcare, food, child care health and housing.
ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Limited Income, Employee – the working poor.
The poverty rate in Howard County was estimated at 5.2% in 2017, according to the Census Bureau.
United Way of Central Maryland has focused on the events surrounding this year's holiday season to ensure that the non-profit organization can support as many people as possible.
"We always say: imagine a child waking up at Christmas [Day] in a situation that is not ideal and have no gifts, "said Beth Littrell, volunteer director of United Way of Central Maryland. "It happens so often that we get so many calls in central Maryland to ask for help for the holidays."
The organization covers the counties of Howard, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll and Harford and Baltimore City.
It also runs Adopt A Family, which offers gifts and clothes donated by donors.
Read more news from Howard County. "
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