DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) – The Salvation Army is hosting their Christmas Distribution this week at the former Shopko building in De Pere.
Toys, hats, gloves, books, and food are all being handed out to local families in need as the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay celebrates the holidays. Director of Social Services Nan Pahl says the larger location allows them to space people out.
“Quite a bit different because obviously we have all experienced the pandemic this year…We are in a much larger location so that we can have the necessary square feet per person, we have everybody being screened outside, everybody’s being temperature checked, we have our volunteers and our parents wearing masks, we have our volunteers wearing gloves so that they are the only ones touching the gifts,” Pahl told WTAQ News. “All of those things that are needed to keep our families safe, our volunteers safe, and our staff who are out here safe, while they’re still enjoying a little bit of normalcy for their Christmas experience.”
Only a certain amount of people were allowed in the building at a time. Which means there was a queue stacked up outside.
People wait in line to enter the former Shopko building in De Pere for the Salvation Army Christmas Distribution. (WTAQ/Casey Nelson)
“We do have a little bit longer line than I’d like outside the building, waiting to get in. But they’re very patient and understand that they’re going to have the best experience if we can keep everybody safe,” Pahl explained.
Volunteers and shoppers had lines on the floor to follow, much like the coat distribution effort in the same building last month. Those lines are intended to maintain separation between the individuals. Volunteers would be paired with parents, who would point out toys or items they’re interested in. Volunteers would hold it up, and if approved, it would go in the bag.
“Normally, the parent would be able to touch everything and pick it up and make that choice for their child. This year they’re still able to make all those choices, they just can’t touch and hold and feel,” Pahl said. “The other thing I think for parents is the fact that we are still allowing them that choice. We thought about doing a drive up distribution and having everything pre packaged based on ages, but we really felt like – who best knows the child? That’s the parents.”
With everything going on in 2020, the Salvation Army wasn’t sure what to expect when it came to donations this season.
“We weren’t quite sure how it would go this year, but we received a lot of online purchases. Even companies that are working from home still had toy boxes, and when people came in, they dropped those toys off on the one day a week that they might come in,” Pahl said. “So we really have seen a lot of generosity and I think the kind of toys that we have this year really speaks to people still wanting to get out and help those in need.”
The main area of the floor was focusing on toys, but your typical stuffed animals and NERF guns weren’t the only things being handed out.
A selection of books at the Salvation Army Christmas Distribution in De Pere. (WTAQ/Casey Nelson)
“They go through on the way out the door they give a kid a book section and the volunteers from the friends of the library help them with their book choices and then they pick up their food basket right before they exit the building,” Pahl said.
About 1,900 families and over 5,000 children from around the area will benefit from the drive. Pahl says that number is a bit higher than in years passed. The distribution is for pre-registered families only.
Distribution runs through 6:00 p.m. Thursday night. It will run again from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18th and from 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 21st.
