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By CASEY JUNKINS

Staff Writer

WHEELING - As a single mother with five children under the age of 8 - including 7-month-old twin girls - Pamela Santee considers herself blessed this Christmas season, thanks to the generosity of Elmhurst - The House of Friendship in Woodsdale.

Though Santee's children will have a bountiful Christmas, some charitable organizations throughout the Ohio Valley are struggling to meet their goals this season. John Nanny, commandant of the local Marine Corps League, said cash donations for Toys for Tots are down 47 percent this year compared to last.

Major John Blevins of the Wheeling Salvation Army reported a 25 percent decline in donations from 2008.

"I guess it is just the nature of the economy - we are just doing what we can," Nanny said Friday as he accepted toys at the Ohio Valley Mall. Toys for Tots accepts both cash donations and toys so the program can provide gifts to less-fortunate children.

"We are steadily filling the orders the best we can," he added.

In addition to the mall, those looking to donate to Toys for Tots can do so at these locations in Wheeling: True Value Hardware, Mail Center Plus, Spic and Span Dry Cleaners, Words and Music at Stratford Springs, Devinci's Pizzeria and Ollie's Sports Bar and Grill, and Henry's Marathon.

At True Value Hardware, employee Nancy Meredith said a local 9-year-old girl had a special request for her birthday.

"She told her friends that she did not want presents. She wanted them to give the presents to Toys for Tots," Meredith said of the girl.

Nanny said the Toys for Tots collection is a joint venture between his local league and the Kilo Co., Third Battalion, 25th Marines unit in Moundsville.

As for the Salvation Army, Blevins said the Wheeling organization "needs more people involved."

"If we just had some more people to go out and ring, it could really make the difference," he said. "Somehow, God will help us through this."

The Wheeling Salvation Army bell ringers are stationed 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Christmas at the following locations: Kroger on Mount de Chantal Road and the Kroger in Warwood; Riesbeck's in Elm Grove; CVS Pharmacy in Woodsdale; and Wal-Mart, Cabela's and J.C. Penney at The Highlands.

The organization also distributes "angel tags," tickets featuring the names of needy area children. Those who take the tickets are to purchase toys for the boy or girl on the ticket.

"We have given out all of our tags. ... We just hope we can get all of them back with toys," Blevins said.

Those who would like to donate to the Salvation Army should call 304-233-4400 or visit the office at 140 16th St. in Wheeling.

One organization doing fairly well this Christmas season is the Coat Closet of Belmont County in Bellaire. Margaret Paolucci founded the group to distribute coats to needy children to keep them warm during the cold winter.

"Last year, we gave away 1,078 coats to kids from all over the valley. It is something that we feel we need to do," she said.

Paolucci said many do not realize the level of poverty some area residents face.

"I had a mother come in with five children who needed coats. The mother did not even have any shoes," Paolucci said. "It was heartbreaking."

Paolucci thanked organizations such as the Ohio Valley Christian Soldiers, the Bellaire High School Alumni Association and "many local stores."

"We take cash donations, but we also take gently used coats," she said. "We also need boots to give away."

Those looking to give to the Coat Closet should call 740-676-5077 or stop by the office, located at 3565 Belmont St. in Bellaire, between 3-5 p.m. on Wednesdays or Fridays.

Another viable charity is the Ohio Valley Free Wheelchair Mission, based in Wheeling. The international organization provides wheelchairs to impoverished, disabled people around the world.

On Friday, Wheeling Councilman Robert "Herk" Henry, his wife Rose and other members of the Columbia Club Troubadours gave money raised from a recent variety show to the Mission.

"This is a great thing they have going here. ... We felt we should help them out," Councilman Henry said.

Wendy Scatterday, Ohio Valley coordinator for the Mission, said a $60 donation provides a chair to a poor person somewhere in the world.

"This is a tremendous donation, and we are extremely grateful. Their support will help get people off the ground and into wheelchairs," she said.

The House of the Carpenter in Wheeling also needs help for its ministry, which is defined by its 45 years of feeding the hungry, caring for the poor, sheltering the cold, welcoming the homeless and helping the needy. The organization, based on Wheeling Island, serves children and adults - but children are its focus. Some youth served this year say they don't have enough to eat or have been restricted from participating in sports because their families can't afford the necessary gear and equipment. The charity provides food and clothing as well as utility assistance to those in need, and it also offers a summer camp, guitar lessons and more.

For more information on The House of the Carpenter or to make a donation, call the Rev. Gary R. Beale, 304-233-4640, or write to The House of the Carpenter Inc., 200 S. Front St., Wheeling WV 26003.

As for Santee, her children all still believe in Santa Claus. They should, because a generous collection of Christmas packages is coming their way this holiday season. Santee's name was given to Elmhurst through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upper Ohio Valley.

"It's truly a blessing," Santee said. "I'm overwhelmed."

Elmhurst residents even got into the spirit and hand-crafted ornaments for the Santees. On Friday, the packages all were gathered from under the Christmas tree at Elmhurst and presented to Santee to take home.

"I am so grateful to them each and every one of them," Santee said of the staff at Elmhurst. "I can't thank them enough for caring and deciding to think of someone else."

There are 24 employees at Elmhurst, and Jamie Crow, executive director at Elmhurst, said it was the second year the staff has taken on such a project.

Staff Writer Joselyn King contributed to this report.