Holiday assistance limited to first-time applicants - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

With Christmas right around the corner, many local organizations are already seeing handfuls of needy families requesting assistance.

But not everyone who asks will get it.

In fact, many organizations say they're only helping those who are in the most dire need.

"I'm a single parent, trying to do it by myself," says Lakreshia Byrd.

Byrd is a full time student with a full time job and three children. She just moved into her own apartment.

"I've been living with other family members and I'm actually trying to do it on my own," she says.

This is the first time she has ever applied for Christmas assistance from the Salvation Army--which means she'll probably get it.

"It means a lot. It actually makes me happy."

That's because the Salvation Army and other non-profit organizations are asking applicants who applied in the last two years to look elsewhere for assistance--in an effort to break dependence on the program.

"It's our hope that people become self-sufficient," says Captain Becky Gilliam, with the Salvation Army.

Gilliam says the Salvation Army is trying to provide assistance to newcomers who have recently fallen on hard times.

"Loss of a job, loss of a family member, those sort of things come up," says Gilliam.

Directors with the Christmas Clearinghouse--responsible for keeping track of everyone requesting assistance throughout the area--say their 60 partnering agencies are doing the same type of screening.

And everyone agrees there is one goal.

"Be good stewards of the generosity of our community," adds Gilliam.

"It means a lot. It really does. I really don't have any words for it," adds Byrd.

Christmas Clearinghouse directors ask anyone who works with a faith-based or non-profit organization to call their office to enroll needy families. That will help cut down on duplicate applications.

Even if you did receive assistance within the last few years, that doesn't mean you can't this year. Call 211 to see if there are other organizations accepting returning applicants.

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