In a clear sign the fog of recession is slow to clear from the Tomball community, more and more area residents are turning to local charities for help this holiday season.

One such charity that is seeing an increase for help this Thanksgiving and Christmas is Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries (TEAM).

At left, Barbara Fabian (left), manager of TEAM's thrift shop, and June Brown (right), a 10-year volunteer, sort through donated toys in preperation for Christmas. Photo by Holly Dutton.

Each year TEAM provides enough food to qualifying families for a complete Thanksgiving meal. At Christmas, families who don’t get adopted, receive food for a meal and gifts for the family.

TEAM Director Loma Holmes estimates that in a typical year, the organization provides Thanksgiving meals to about 150 families.

This year, that number is up to 174, Holmes said.

“We’re really seeing a lot more because of the economy,” Holmes said.

TEAM is currently in the process of organizing and assembling its Thanksgiving meal donations to local families. While the registration deadline for Thanksgiving has passed, TEAM is currently accepting applications for Christmas and will continue to do so through Nov. 20.

The two remaining sign up days for Christmas assistance are Nov. 17 and Nov. 20.

However, Holmes explained that those wishing to sign up for Christmas assistance must already have a case on file with TEAM.

By press time last week, TEAM had signed up more than 60 families for Christmas assistance, with more coming in each week. Holmes said that so many families are filing through the doors, extra chairs and benches had to be placed in the TEAM lobby.

“There must have been 25 people (waiting) when we opened the door,” Holmes said last week.

Last year, TEAM signed up approximately 200 Tomball area families for Christmas assistance, and Holmes expects to surpass that number this year. Most of the families are adopted by local churches, charities and individuals.

Those who are not adopted out are aided by TEAM. Families requesting Christmas assistance list each member of their family, one gift request per person, clothing sizes, gender and ages. Last year, of the 200 families TEAM signed up, about half were adopted.

TEAM will also receive assistance in raising funds and food through several businesses and churches in the Tomball area, including 24 Hour Emergency on SH 249, which is holding a food drive throughout the fall.

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