A U.S. marine helps pack gift boxes for shoppers.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.– Sabrina didn’t want to tell her kids Christmas was canceled.

The mother-of-two had relocated to Virginia Beach for her husband’s job. But it wasn’t until after they moved and signed a two-year lease on a home they were told the bad news – her husband’s job fell through.

"We left everything, sold our house and came here," she said.

The family didn’t have the money to buy a traditional Christmas dinner, much less give their children presents. However, Sabrina found help at the annual food and gift giveaway sponsored by The Salvation Army and supported by OBI.

"I can’t stop smiling," she said after receiving her food and gifts. "You can do without Christmas; I can do without Christmas, but try and tell that to your four- and six-year-old – you just can’t."

This year, Operation Blessing is linking arms again with The Salvation Army to help support the annual event that reaches out to area Hampton Roads residents.

Each year, an estimated $600,000 worth of new toys are provided for thousands of families in need.

OBI volunteers will sort food items and distribute food boxes and gifts to families at the week-long outreach held in Virginia Beach December 14-22.

Event organizers say that all the fixings for approximately 10,500 holiday family-size meals will be given to residents. In addition, partnerships with the U.S. Marine Corps and the Virginian-Pilot's Joy Fund will help provide toys and gifts for the children.

In general, the combined toy effort usually generates about $600,000 worth of new children's items, and this year will be no exception.

"The Salvation Army has been efficient and effective in meeting the needs of families who need help in our area," said Dean Nowotny, Operation Blessing’s senior manager. "There’s no need to reinvent the wheel when we can just come alongside them and assist in such a worthwhile undertaking, which reaches so many people."

As a key partner in this outreach, OBI will provide services valued at more than $150,000 in cash, food and volunteer hours for the outreach as well as stage Hunger Strike Force trailers at the distribution site to store product.

Each family will receive holiday food items such as stuffing, gravy, potatoes, vegetables, pie filling and a meat product.

"This is a great opportunity for us to reach out to those around us and assist the less fortunate here at home in addition to our service in other countries," Nowotny said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, the fleet of Hunger Strike Force trucks are on the road, delivering nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Consider making an online donation today.

 

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