SALISBURY — Christmas Happiness 2011 applications will be taken starting this weekend at the Rowan County Department of Social Services office.
Christmas Happiness is a Salisbury Post- and Social Services-sponsored endeavor, which provides financial assistance for low-income families to purchase Christmas gifts for children under the age of 18.
The Salisbury Post collects donations from the community and DSS takes the applications and issues benefits to eligible families.
Applicants must apply in person at 1813 E. Innes St., Salisbury.
Applications will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Vouchers are issued to eligible families based on the funding available for Christmas Happiness.
Applications will only be taken from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, also Dec. 10 and Dec. 17.
No Applications will be taken during the regular work week or accepted by mail.
In order to be eligible, children must live in the applicant’s home; be under 18; the applicant must live in Rowan County; household’s income must be below 100 percent of the federal poverty level; applicants must provide verification of identity, income, social security numbers and ages of the children on the date they apply for assistance.
Children receiving assistance for Christmas from any other organization or club are not eligible.
Applications will not be held for verifications to be provided at a later date.
Rowan County DSS will not search agency files for information needed to determine eligibility for those people applying. Applicants must bring all pertinent information.
See an upcoming story in this Sunday’s paper about the Christmas Happiness campaign.