Salado Family Relief Fund: Who We Help
Salado Family Relief helps out many families in Salado throughout the year. Its biggest projects are the Christmas program that gives gifts to 150 Salado children each year and the Back-to-School backpack program which purchases school supply kits and backpacks for more than 100 Salado elementary school children.
Every year, SFRF provides Christmas presents to about 150 children. Applicants are screened for needs and to be sure that gift-giving is equitable and age-appropriate. Gifts total about $75-100 per child. Local churches and other civic and local groups often adopt large families or age groups of children. Salado Masonic Lodge purchases bikes and helmets for the dozen or so requests each year.
The second project, the Back-to-School project, is almost two decades old itself. It began as a voucher program with a local Walmart for school supplies and school clothing. In recent years, however, SFRF has provided back-to-school backpacks filled with the school supplies for the children in Salado’s elementary school. “Each kit costs about $50 in supplies, not to mention the costs of the backpack themselves, another $25,” said Marilyn Griffin, who launched the backpack program through a local church 14 years ago.
In addition to these annual projects, SFRF helps families in need with financial assistance throughout the year.
Salado Family Relief Fund offers these services:
• financial help with rent/mortgage.
• help with utilities
• help with minor medical expenses.
• contributes to the Salado ISD lunch fund for students who are in need and do not qualify for assistance under federal guidelines.
• provides $25 gas cards for travelers who show need for help.
Recipients must meet one of more of the following criteria:
• reside in the Salado area.
• Show proof of need (must have current Medicaid, SSI Disability, Lonestar or CHIP card).
• Not exceed SFRF guidelines for previous assistant (one instance of assistance within a calendar year, three times maximum).
The Salado Family Relief Fund is supported through contributions from the community. “All donations go to assist local residents in need,” stated Salado Family Relief Fund, LLC Board President JR Lett. “We receive no state or federal support.”
Salado Family Relief Fund conducts one fundraiser each year, the Empty Bowl Project, held in November combining soup luncheon with soups from local restaurants and bed and breakfast along with handmade pottery bowls from local artisans and Salado students.”
If you would like to support Salado Family Relief, mail donations to PO Box 461, Salado, TX 76571 or click here.
For more information, please contact us by email at SFRSaladoTX@gmail.com