Salvation Army distributes over $8,000 in gifts and food

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Salvation Army in Petersburg distributed about $8,000 worth of food and gifts to about 85 families.

Last week, a day before Major Loni Upshaw with the Salvation Army would lead food distribution to mostly low-income families; five Coast Guard members were stuffing boxes with dinner rolls and soup; green beans and eggs.

Most of the food and gifts were donated from the community, along with purchases from the Salvation Army and the Women's Group at the Lutheran Church.

There were $2,000 in gifts, Upshaw said.

"Oh my word, hundreds," Upshaw said when asked...