The Meat Of The Matter

The cupboard is far from bare at the local Salvation Army and since toy donations are on track, the spaces beneath the trees of some 300 local needy families will be filled this year.

But officials at the charity are worried about the spot reserved for the heart of holiday dinners: hams and turkeys.

Donations are way down this year, and now it's just days before the charity plans to distribute Christmas dinner fixings to families who applied for assistance earlier this year, said Cathy Southard, social services worker at the Salvation Army's Brooksville office.

"It's just not coming in like it has normally," Southard said.

She's putting out a call for donations of hams and turkey, or gift cards from local grocery retailers, so families can go shopping for meat themselves. The meals will be distributed this Thursday, Dec. 18, so donations need to arrive by Wednesday, Southard said.

The number of families who have applied and qualified for assistance is much higher than last year, Southard said.

She estimates the total number of people on this year's list is triple what it was in 2007.

"Because of the economy the way it is, we're just overwhelmed with people," Southard said. "People who have never had to do this before."

The community has come through with canned goods, she said.

Food drives at Hernando's schools have been especially helpful.

The Salvation Army's annual Angel Tree program also is enjoying success, Southard said.

The trees are placed in Wal-Marts, Cracker Barrels and at Oak Hill Hospital with ornaments that include the name of a needy child and his Christmas wish list. A donor takes the list, shops and drops off the toys.

That's probably the most important part of the Army's annual holiday mission, but a hearty meal with ham or turkey is a crucial part of the celebration, Southard said.

"Those children want something under the tree but we have to put some meat on the table, too," she said.

The Salvation Army, located at 15464 Cortez Blvd. in Brooksville, will accept donations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. For more information, call 796-1186.