Video: Local Charities In Need As Summer Approaches

[syndicaster id=’6292720′]

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The holiday season has come and gone once again.

For many, the holidays are a time to give back to local charities.

But what about the months following the busy giving season? As summer approaches, there is still a need that has to be met, even in Columbus.

The food pantry shelves at the Salvation Army were empty last week.

“Typically this time of the year and going forward into the summer are tough months for us financially to make it,” said Commanding Officer Major Alan Phillips.

Phillips says although donations and volunteers decrease during this time of the year, the need is still great.

“It’s not like the need drops off, it’s just as big, even if not more. So you have the need that’s just as big and financial difficulties that we’re in right now, more than we’ve seen in a long time,” said Phillips.

The food pantry is slowly starting to get restocked.

The charity gives away food twice a week.

Philips says there are several ways you can help out, from financial support, to donating items and giving of your time.

” You could put a price on it if you had to hire somebody and our volunteers do a lot for us here,” added Phillips.

The Red Cross workers says they are also affected by the slower months following the holidays.

“We’re 91% volunteers, so we really depend on volunteers to run our local offices such as this one,” said Patty Tucker, the Executive Director of the North Mississippi Red Cross.

Tucker says no matter the time of the year, there are still local needs to be met.

“Going into the summer months, people have a lot of other things on their minds such as vacations and things like that but there is still a need for local organizations for those funds, as I said, we need those funds so we can be readily available when there is a disaster. We need those volunteers so we can send volunteers immediately when families have had a house fire,” said Tucker.

Because of the volunteers, the Red Cross recently sent help to the Delta who have been hit hard by flooding.

“We had two volunteers who just recently were deployed over to the delta to assist with the flooding and we’re so proud of our volunteers that go through the training and that are ready when there’s a need,” added Tucker.

For information on how to help the local Salvation Army, call 662-327-5137

For information on how to help the local Red Cross, call 662-328-5710