betts
12-11-2009, 04:07 AM
The Angel Tree is a great program, and they've still got Angels that need help. I hope it's appropriate for this thread to be in this section, but I wanted people to be aware that the Salvation Army still needs some help. This is a wonderful way of helping make the holidays special for someone else.
Salvation army gift drive brings holidays to Oklahoma's needy
Holidays: The charity got 500 more requests than usual for aid this season
BY DARLA SLIPKE The Oklahoman
Published: December 11, 2009
The Salvation Army is looking for help to make sure thousands of local children and older residents receive gifts this Christmas season.
The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree is in front of Macy’s on the first floor of Penn Square Mall, 1901 Northwest Expressway. The program ends
Sunday. Anyone who does not adopt an angel but would like to help can bring a new, high-quality toy to the Salvation Army’s distribution center at the State Fair Park Expo Building. Volunteers who would like to help sort toys can stop by the distribution center between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Parents will collect the toys Thursday and Dec. 18.
The Salvation Army is working to provide gifts for more than 1,800 families — about 500 more families than usual, officials said. Approximately 5,500 children and older residents whose families meet low-income requirements will receive gifts this Christmas through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, said Maj. Francina Proctor of the Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command.
With just a week left before parents and guardians collect those gifts, about 646 "forgotten angels” were still waiting to be adopted Wednesday afternoon from an Angel Tree at Penn Square Mall.
People who would like to help can adopt an angel with a wish list from the tree, or drop off a high-quality new toy at the Expo Building at the state fairgrounds. The Salvation Army would like each recipient to receive at least one gift he or she wants, said D’Anna Pulliam, a volunteer and member of the Women’s Auxiliary. "This is the only Christmas many of these children will get,” Pulliam said. "For many, it’s the only time they will get a new gift.”
Pulliam coordinated this year’s Buck$ 4 Bikes drive to raise money to buy bicycles for children in the Angel Tree program. This year was the most successful drive since the program started four years ago, Pulliam said. Nearly 400 children in the program will receive a new bike for Christmas. But thousands more who asked for one will not, Pulliam said. In addition to gifts, every child in the program will receive a stocking with goodies and each family will receive a box of food for Christmas dinner.
Organizing the drive takes months of planning and help from hundreds of volunteers, officials said. The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to help sort gifts at the distribution center this week and next. Gifts are dropped off, checked in, sorted, bagged and organized according to families for parents to pick up during scheduled times Thursday and Dec. 18. Pulliam said those are the best days, and volunteers look forward to them all year because the response is so gratifying. "You come out here and you feel so much joy,” Pulliam said. "It’s a real rewarding time.”
Threcia Bates adopted a 10-year-old boy from an Angel Tree at work. She also spent all day Thursday helping at the distribution center by putting together bags of gifts for children. She planned to help again today. "It makes me feel a whole lot better,” Bates said. Across the room, a small group from the Dale Rogers Training Center wrapped Christmas gifts for the elderly. "It’s fun to help people,” volunteer Virginia Morrison said.
Proctor encouraged people who would like to help to consider buying gifts for a child or stopping by the distribution center to donate a new gift or help organize toys. "There’s no greater blessing than to give sacrificially,” Proctor said. "A lot of people are doing that this season. It’s just a heartwarming feeling to know that you’re giving to someone who’s trying to make a go at it.”
Read more: NewsOK (http://www.newsok.com/salvation-army-gift-drive-brings-holidays-to-oklahomas-needy/article/3424223#ixzz0ZNR7h0Fd)
Salvation army gift drive brings holidays to Oklahoma's needy
Holidays: The charity got 500 more requests than usual for aid this season
BY DARLA SLIPKE The Oklahoman
Published: December 11, 2009
The Salvation Army is looking for help to make sure thousands of local children and older residents receive gifts this Christmas season.
The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree is in front of Macy’s on the first floor of Penn Square Mall, 1901 Northwest Expressway. The program ends
Sunday. Anyone who does not adopt an angel but would like to help can bring a new, high-quality toy to the Salvation Army’s distribution center at the State Fair Park Expo Building. Volunteers who would like to help sort toys can stop by the distribution center between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Parents will collect the toys Thursday and Dec. 18.
The Salvation Army is working to provide gifts for more than 1,800 families — about 500 more families than usual, officials said. Approximately 5,500 children and older residents whose families meet low-income requirements will receive gifts this Christmas through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, said Maj. Francina Proctor of the Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command.
With just a week left before parents and guardians collect those gifts, about 646 "forgotten angels” were still waiting to be adopted Wednesday afternoon from an Angel Tree at Penn Square Mall.
People who would like to help can adopt an angel with a wish list from the tree, or drop off a high-quality new toy at the Expo Building at the state fairgrounds. The Salvation Army would like each recipient to receive at least one gift he or she wants, said D’Anna Pulliam, a volunteer and member of the Women’s Auxiliary. "This is the only Christmas many of these children will get,” Pulliam said. "For many, it’s the only time they will get a new gift.”
Pulliam coordinated this year’s Buck$ 4 Bikes drive to raise money to buy bicycles for children in the Angel Tree program. This year was the most successful drive since the program started four years ago, Pulliam said. Nearly 400 children in the program will receive a new bike for Christmas. But thousands more who asked for one will not, Pulliam said. In addition to gifts, every child in the program will receive a stocking with goodies and each family will receive a box of food for Christmas dinner.
Organizing the drive takes months of planning and help from hundreds of volunteers, officials said. The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to help sort gifts at the distribution center this week and next. Gifts are dropped off, checked in, sorted, bagged and organized according to families for parents to pick up during scheduled times Thursday and Dec. 18. Pulliam said those are the best days, and volunteers look forward to them all year because the response is so gratifying. "You come out here and you feel so much joy,” Pulliam said. "It’s a real rewarding time.”
Threcia Bates adopted a 10-year-old boy from an Angel Tree at work. She also spent all day Thursday helping at the distribution center by putting together bags of gifts for children. She planned to help again today. "It makes me feel a whole lot better,” Bates said. Across the room, a small group from the Dale Rogers Training Center wrapped Christmas gifts for the elderly. "It’s fun to help people,” volunteer Virginia Morrison said.
Proctor encouraged people who would like to help to consider buying gifts for a child or stopping by the distribution center to donate a new gift or help organize toys. "There’s no greater blessing than to give sacrificially,” Proctor said. "A lot of people are doing that this season. It’s just a heartwarming feeling to know that you’re giving to someone who’s trying to make a go at it.”
Read more: NewsOK (http://www.newsok.com/salvation-army-gift-drive-brings-holidays-to-oklahomas-needy/article/3424223#ixzz0ZNR7h0Fd)