For Christmas, 7-year-old Qualik would like a 20-inch bicycle, a Spiderman action figure, a football and some clothes.
One of 1,644 children up for "adoption" this year in Augusta Urban Ministries' White Christmas project, Qualik will likely get most of his presents this holiday season from a benevolent stranger who will purchase the gifts from his wish list.
Children like Qualik are becoming more common as the economic downturn continues to make its presence known. Augusta Urban Ministries usually serves about 1,500 children each holiday season. More families are turning for assistance this year, and about 60 children still need sponsors, director Rick Herring said.
That rise in demand has been reported by other area charities and food banks. And even if holiday giving remains steady this year, that spike means charities are feeling a strain, said Vikki Blair Adkins, the director of development for the Golden Harvest Food Bank.
"We have amazingly generous donors in this community. I think that food resounds in the heart," Ms. Blair Adkins said. "Even with that response, the need for food continues to increase, and our ability to provide it continues to be challenged."
Mr. Herring said several churches that sponsor children in the program had to cut back on the number they could adopt this year. He said one positive was that the number of churches helping out actually increased.
"We just had a few churches because of the economy that could not adopt as many as in the past," he said.
The Salvation Army -- known for its red kettles, which are at 35 Augusta locations -- also has reported reduced donations outside its Kroc Center efforts. The organization has added an online giving component this year to help meet demand.
More than 1,000 kids are in its Adopt an Angel program, up from 677 children last year.
Ms. Blair Adkins said she believes some families are just now looking for assistance so they can help make the season special.
"With the holidays coming up, I think that people feel more acutely a desire to do something special for their families, and those who are barely making it or are used to getting by on very little can really benefit from some special things like hams and turkeys and that sort of thing," she said.
She added that the food distribution has become so quick that Golden Harvest's shelves often look empty.
"The reality is that just as the donations are at least staying up there, the need just continues to increase now," she said. "We haven't seen that level off yet."
Reach Erin Zureick at (706) 823-3217 or erin.zureick@augustachronicle.com.
HOW TO HELP
AUGUSTA URBAN MINISTRIES WHITE CHRISTMAS: About 60 children still can be adopted. Volunteers are given a wish list and asked to spend $40-$60 by Dec. 7. Call (706) 722-8195.
TOYS FOR TOTS: The Marine Corps collects and distributes toys. To find a drop-off location, visit www.toysfortots.org/donate/toys.asp
STUFF-A-TRUCK EVENTS: Golden Harvest Food Bank and the Salvation Army hold this event seeking nonperishable food items and toys twice next month: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Walmart at 1201 Knox Ave. in North Augusta; 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Walmart at 260 Bobby Jones Expressway in Martinez.
CANAPALOOZA: 95 Rock is holding its annual drive for Golden Harvest Food Bank. The event continues until noon Monday at The Pizza Joint of Evans, 4301 Washington Road.
SALVATION ARMY ONLINE RED KETTLES: To start a kettle, visit tinyurl.com/3sa9lu.
Salvation Army Adopt an Angel: Adopt an angel by picking up an "angel tag" from the Augusta Mall's Christmas tree after Thanksgiving or by calling The Salvation Army directly. Each tag includes the child's gender, age, clothing size and a "wish" gift.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010. All Rights Reserved.
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![Becky and Bill Oellerich shop at Walmart for two children whom they "adopted" through Augusta Urban Ministries' White Christmas project. Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff](/sites/default/files/editorial/images/spotted/82/824748.jpg "Becky and Bill Oellerich shop at Walmart for two children whom they "adopted" through Augusta Urban Ministries' White Christmas project. Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff")
Yes, as long as this administration and it's policies are in power, more and more will seek help. Soon, all will be seeking help and we'll no longer be America. The great equalizer is in the house.
Yes johnston only the great and benevolent "gubment" will be able to give.....lol when sheeple find out just what it is this government wants to give they will no longer be sheep...but it will be too late.
Augusta Urban Ministries is another "non profit" entity redistributing others "charity" and taking the credit. And a little "administrative salary of the top" doesn't hurt either. We are besieged by "non profit shops" who specialize in "helping others". "Give me twenty dollars and I'll provide a $10 family meal" to the hungry . Give WalMart the twenty and they will provide a $20 family meal.
I love the insinuation that Obama caused the recession that started in mid-2008 before he took office. Somehow a junior senator from Illinois caused the greatest global economic turndown since the great depression. Makes you wonder how he got elected. Oh right, there's a small slice of the electorate (mostly independents) with the capacity for rational thought.
I wanted to adopt a child for Christmas. I went to an angel tree. They all wanted items that cost hundreds of dollars. Name- brand clothing. Gaming systems. Keyboards. Leather coats. Name-brand shoes. I said "forget it" and walked away. That's not need, that's greed.
True. There should be some sort of screening process ensuring that the items requested are reasonable. A child deserves to wake up to a toy Christmas morning, but a child expecting someone more fortunate to feed his/her lust for high-end luxuries has to readjust his/her priorities. My company is adopting a family that has requested a very reasonable mix of clothing, grocery store gift cards, and moderately priced toys, so fortunately not everyone is so greedy.