The Salvation Army of Iredell County’s Statesville location

The Salvation Army of Iredell County’s Statesville location The Salvation Army of Iredell County’s Statesville location is changing its Christmas gift program this year in response to past dissatisfaction from both the program’s beneficiaries and the agency.

Starting this year, the Salvation Army will no longer accept public applications for its annual gift distribution, which for the past three years has been marred by long lines and, in turn, unruly behavior, according to previous reports. Salvation Army Cpt. Glenda Priest said changes are being made to avoid those situations and at the same time help families who are most in need.

Families will no longer fill out applications and pick up gifts at a designated time and date. Instead, the Salvation Army — a United Way agency — will choose who will have the opportunity to apply for the gift distribution. Select individuals will be contacted by the Salvation Army and be asked to fill out an application. Their eligibility will subsequently be decided.

Priest said families will be chosen depending three different factors: if they have been assisted by the agency in the past three months; if they were assisted during last year’s Christmas whenever program; and how often that family receives assistance from the agency.