While Collegedale's Samaritan Center received more donations and help from the community in 2013 than in 2012, Social Services Director Sharon Smith-Hensley said the organization saw a different kind of need this winter.
"We saw a lot of new faces this winter, different people than we normally do," she said. "And we're seeing people needing help with rent or mortgage payments this year."
Though families get energy assistance from other organizations, Smith-Hensley said the Samaritan Center helped individuals make ends meet in other regards. For example, its Christmas Toyland program donated 2,066 items to children in the area, she said.
"We're just so thankful to continue to be able to help during the Christmas season," she said. "Christmas is a perpetual issue, and so we're also teaching people to fish and be self-sufficient."
This year, the Samaritan Center is also introducing the Vitatax program, sponsored by Southern Adventist University. The program offers free tax preparation for households with less than a $51,000 income.
"It's a true blessing. We've not been able to get that program until now and others have had to go downtown for it," Smith-Hensley said.