The Salvation Army is taking applications from Troup County residents who need help buying Christmas gifts for kids in their home.

Help is available for children ages 0-12-years-old or for special needs individuals whose cognitive level falls within that range.   

Only qualified applications will be considered.  Applications were distributed by the school system.

To qualify, applicants must bring a completed application, photo ID and a food stamp award letter.

Applicants without a food stamp letter must provide the following, in addition to a photo ID: proof of current address, birth certificate, custody paperwork if applicable and proof of all income in the household, and all expenses.

Anyone applying on behalf of an older special needs person must bring documentation for them.

Though the program is to benefit children, The Salvation Army asks that no children be present for the application process.

Applications will be received in West Point and LaGrange.  You may apply in either location, but you must be a Troup County resident.

To apply in West Point, visit the Virginia Cook Activity Center at 806 MLK Drive on Monday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. This is the only day applications will be accepted in West Point.

For LaGrange, apply at the Salvation Army, located at 202 Church Street from Oct. 24 -26 during the hours of 10 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m.

The program is part of the Angel Tree drive, where each child’s wishes are displayed on a paper angel and the angel is hung on a Christmas tree. Individuals or companies can sponsor one child or several.

The program has served up to 800 children in the past, and would like to again, but availability of gifts depends on the number of sponsors who participate. 

“We would love some companies to sponsor the angels, or they can sponsor a red kettle,” said Lisa Martin, director of the Salvation Army in LaGrange.

If your company would like to become a sponsor, contact Martin or LaGrange store manager Yvonne Benham at (706) 884-6842.

You may also call the store if you have questions about the application process.