Memphis-area charities try to spread assistance for holidays

Agencies limit recipients to gifts from one source

By Linda A. Moore
Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Holiday cheer will be spread a bit more evenly to the needy this season as four Memphis-area charitable agencies are collaborating to avoid double-dipping by participants.

The Salvation Army's Angel Tree, Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, Toys for Tots and the Neighborhood Christian Centers will be comparing lists to ensure more people are helped through their agencies.

The decision, officials said, has less to do with declines in donations than with how the tanked economy has created greater need.

"We have to make sure we are good stewards of what we receive from the community," said Ephie Johnson, president and CEO of the Neighborhood Christian Centers.

It also makes sense, said U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Robert Adkinson, coordinator for the Memphis Toys for Tots drive.

"We just don't want to see the same family getting gifts from three different locations when we could have given to three different families," Adkinson said.

The alliance keeps in check those recipients who are more aggressive, Johnson said.

"I can't say there is gross abuse, but there are people who are opportunistic and take advantage," she said.

Last year, Toys for Tots helped 675 families and 43 charities.

Neighborhood Christian Centers has more than 12,000 regular program participants who will receive some form of assistance during the holidays, mostly gifts of food. However, only about 1,000 of those -- people who take part only in the toy store program -- will be on the list that gets shared with the other agencies.

"Out of that list, we pray we don't have too much of an overlap," Johnson said.

This new collaboration coincides with the decision by the Salvation Army to allow only children who did not receive Angel Tree gifts last year to receive them this year.

"We told our clients if we helped you last year, we can't help you this year," said Major Mark Woodcock, area commander.

Even with that provision, the 6,000 available slots were filled as quickly as in years past, Woodcock said.

After the holiday season, the agencies will compare notes to see how well the collaboration worked, Woodcock said.

Local agencies

— Catholic Charities of West Tennessee
1325 Jefferson Ave.
Memphis, TN 38104
722-4700

— Neighborhood Christian Centers
785 Jackson Ave.
Memphis, TN 38107
881-6013

— Toys for Tots
3114 Jackson Ave.
Memphis, TN 38112
324-9425 ext. 226

— Salvation Army Angel Tree
696 Jackson Ave.
Memphis, TN 38105
543-8586

— Linda A. Moore: 529-2702

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Linda A. Moore
The Commercial Appeal
December 2, 2009