Tools

Residents Receive Free Food Drive-Thru Style

by KREX News Room
by Courtney Griffin

Story Created: Dec 20, 2012 at 6:55 PM MDT

Story Updated: Dec 20, 2012 at 7:44 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- Hundreds of local residents and families received some special gifts Thursday that will make this holiday season more memorable.

The Salvation Army, Colorado Army National Guard, and many other community organizations worked hard to gather toys and food for families who need extra help.

Dana Capozzella, the Brigadier General of the Colorado Army National Guard, flew into Grand Junction Thursday morning to be apart of the distribution process.

It was a different kind of fast-food service.

"We now have a Christmas dinner," Terressa Brooks, resident.

Due to various community donations, the Salvation Army along with the National Guard assembled 2,100 food boxes and distributed thousands of toys to many in need. The boxes of food were delivered to residents drive-thru style, allowing them to stay warm in their car.

"My son is going to have a Christmas. We're going to have supper on the table that night. It means the world," said Brooks.

More than 1,500 families waited in line to pick up toys and boxes of food. They even got to choose if they wanted turkey or ham.

"It's a good feeling. We had a lady yesterday that said Merry Christmas, God bless you, and it was genuine," said Tim Smith, master sergeant.

"It makes our spirits feel good too, to get the help. It's really rough times right now for a lot of people, and babies don't understand no Christmas," said Brooks.

Officials say they strive to make sure no one goes without.

"If it was snowing, we'd be here, because that's what we do," said Smith.

"Taking care of our neighbors, our friends, our family," said Capozzella.

"God bless man, God bless," said Brooks.

The items given Thursday were made possible by community efforts.

Officials say the Salvation Army's biggest fundraiser was a couple of weekends ago when the Grand Junction Kiwanis Club and the Rotary Club of Grand Junction rang bells outside several businesses.

Officials say the Rotary Club brought in $37,954.26. The Kiwanis Club brought in $11,224.87.



Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KREX - News, Weather, Sports for Grand Junction | Montrose | Glenwood Springs - Coverage You Can Count On and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Most Popular
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
News Channel 5 Weather