More San Antonians are reaching out to nonprofits for help this holiday season
As families struggle to make ends meet, nonprofits are seeing the need for help increase. Two examples in San Antonio are a bump in participants asking for gifts with the Salvation Army, and a rise in homebound older adults looking for groceries or supplies with King’s Compassion.
Major Missy Romack, the Salvation Army’s area commander, said people are signing up for the first time.
“We’ve had more now of hard-working families that are coming and saying, ‘listen we just can’t make ends meet,’” Romack said.
King’s Compassion said they can’t keep up with the rising need.
“For those 200 people that we’re helping every month, I know they are very grateful, but the reality is that it’s a drop in the bucket when we consider how many seniors in our community really need this kind of help,” said Rose Reyes, CEO of the San Antonio-based nonprofit.
Both organizations said community support is crucial in helping families, children and older adults through the holidays.
Salvation Army sees more ‘Angels’
The Salvation Army has kicked off its Angel Tree program in San Antonio, and the organization said it expects more than 6,000 angels on the tree this year, up from 5,500 last year.
The requests this year go beyond dolls and bikes. One family asked for winter clothes for a 4-year-old. Another asked for a crib.
“The Salvation Army is relying on the generosity of the community,” said Rebecca Mayberry, director of development for the Salvation Army.
Mayberry said she remembers what the help meant to her own family.
“My mother fell on hard times, she was a single parent,” she said. “I received an Etch-a-Sketch for Christmas that year, and it was a very treasured gift that I received.”
As prices rise for everyone, Romack said some groups of people go in on an angel tree kid.
“Some siblings or a church group or just some friends, they’ll adopt an angel and they all go shopping,” she said. “Together they’ll come together and provide what the child needs and wishes for.”
Leaders with the Salvation Army said they are appreciative of whatever people chose to donate. Angel trees are up at several area Walmarts, the North Star Mall or people can shop online.
King’s Compassion leaders said more seniors need help
King’s Compassion is reporting the same trend. The organization delivers groceries, paper and cleaning products, plus toiletries, heaters and fans to about 200 homebound seniors.
For older adults to qualify, their income must be 110% of poverty level or below. In 2026 it was a $1,463 for one person, and a little under $2,000 for a two-person household.
King’s Compassion CEO Rose Reyes said the need for assistance has increased “drastically.”
Reyes said space heaters, bladder pads and pet food are a need right now, but people can also check their website for other needs and volunteer opportunities.
King’s Compassion is also doing a ‘Silver Angels’ tree, where older adults can chose a gift they want.
“I like to remind people that what we do is year-round,” she said. “So year-around people can get that satisfaction and that reward of knowing that they’ve given of themselves for somebody else.”
Read also:
Ver nota original ↗
¿Querés un resumen rápido de esta noticia, hecho por nuestra IA?
