Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Some South Carolina volunteers and business owners are letting needy National Guard members and their families know they aren't forgotten at Christmas time.

"Operation Christmas Cheer" provided holiday gifts and food deliveries to 35 guard families this year facing unemployment or other economic hard times.

Barbara Livingston is one of the volunteers who delivered the gifts, as well as the wife of Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston Jr., the adjutant general of the South Carolina guard.

She says it's wonderful to see members of the community, including restaurants and other businesses, donate to help needy guard families.

The state Department of Employment and Workforce reports that the jobless rate for veterans is about 2 to 3 percent higher than for the general population.

(Copyright 2011, The Associated Press)