During the holiday season, Columbia’s major charities are preparing to implement holiday programs for families in poverty.

The Voluntary Action Center describes itself as a program functioning to “ensure that low-income people’s basic needs are met, so they can overcome economic hardships and become self-sufficient.” Currently, it is focusing on its Holiday Program for families.

“We pair sponsors with families in need,” VAC Social Services Director Leslie Pitchford said. “Every year we help over 1,000 families. We still have over 300 families waiting for sponsors.”

This year, 1,100 families signed up. All live in Boone County and live below the poverty line.

While the VAC also partners with local business for some of its programs, this one relies on the donations of individuals.

“Last year, we were a little short,” Pitchford said. “We hope to provide sponsors this year for every family. The program is mainly focused on children because we want to make sure children have something to open on the holidays.”

The program goes beyond that to provide food, especially for a holiday meal and necessities for adults and the household, like cleaning products and personal care items.

The Salvation Army is well-known for its program of bell ringers who solicit donations during the holiday season. This year, it is still looking for volunteers, Salvation Army Area Coordinator Cynthia Chapman said.

However, the international charity also runs several other programs in the Columbia area.

Similar to the VAC’s program, “angel trees” are located around the city, allowing people to pick up a child’s Christmas wish list and bring the donated item to the Salvation Army service center.

Harbor House, a homeless shelter in Columbia operated by the Salvation Army, provides Thanksgiving and Christmas meals as part of its regular services. Lunch is open to anyone in need, not just the residents, on both of those days as it is year-round.

Chapman said they also like to focus on families with children during the holiday season, and the program tries to provide each person in need with personalized help for their situation.

“People want to know how they can help, and we tell them they can help us out by sending a check,” Chapman said. “Some of these people need (the) most basic things, like really thick gloves, not the thin ones.”

Apart from families with children, the largest group the Salvation Army deals with is the elderly, especially veterans.

“Any amount of donation will help us,” Chapman said.

To learn more about volunteering through either the [VAC](https://www.facebook.com/vacboone) or the [Boone County Salvation Army](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Salvation-Army-of-Boone-County/160440287326916), you can contact both on their Facebook pages.