Missed deadline won't mean missed Xmas

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) - Some low income families recently learned they will not receive toys from the Salvation Army this holiday because they missed the deadline to apply. But several groups in Hampton Roads are stepping up to the plate to make the holidays happen.

300 kids in Hampton Roads were affected by the big snafu.

"Of course it is heartbreaking, we don't like turning any people away ever," Seth Atkinson, the Salvation Army's Social Services Director, said.

This holiday season the Salvation Army will give away toys to 20,000 children, but some Head Start students will not be among them.

Every year, the preschool program for low income families sends applications home to parents. But this year, the program came under new management and missed the Salvation Army's October deadline.

Atkinson explained, "We set our deadline when we do, because we need time to process the paperwork. Also, because of the sheer volume of applications we get."

But the Salvation Army isn't the only group that can play Santa.

"We are going to jump into this with both feet," Terry Kelley, with Meridian Group, said.

The Meridian group and other businesses are now organizing what the Head Start director calls a "Christmas Coalition".

Kelley said, "A lot of people that are calling in, that are our friends, are saying, 'What do you need? Do you need cash? Do you need presents?',and we said, 'We just need something for these kids to open on Christmas morning.'"

And you can help too. Soon, you will be able to find a list of toy drop-off locations and suggestions based on what the kids want on www.independentwestand.org.

Also, Lakeman Construction set up a bank account to collect money for gifts. You can contribute to the "Christmas is for Kids" account at any branch of Suntrust Bank.