Volunteers Assemble Salvation Army Food Baskets

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- More than 400 volunteers gathered Saturday to make sure their neighbors don't go hungry this holiday season.

They pitched in to assemble the Salvation Army food baskets. 

Michael Broad is a Tulsa firefighter, who took a vacation day so he could volunteer with his kids.

"The people out there, the economy is just bad, people are really, really struggling. And to be able to come in and know that, just a little bit, we're helping out just a little bit. These baskets might not mean a lot to somebody else, but this can be a week's worth of groceries or a month's worth of groceries for some of these people," said Michael Broad, a volunteer.

The Salvation Army reports requests for food baskets are up 25 percent compared to last year. 

High school freshman Tori Burress says helping the less fortunate is what Christmas is all about.

"Especially this year with the recession and everything, a lot of people, they're not going to be able to afford a big Christmas dinner. And so this helps them, helps them get back on their feet and at least helps them eat and be happy for Christmas," said Tori Burress, a volunteer.

Each basket has about $75 worth of food and cooking supplies, according to the Salvation Army. 

Volunteers will begin distributing them to 5,200 Tulsa area families next week.