Return the angels
Over 300 still not returned; Monday deadline for gifts
As of Wednesday, The Salvation Army had only received 117 of the nearly 450 Angel Tree gifts back, and the deadline is Monday.
The last of the tags that have hung on Christmas trees at local Walmarts since November were taken Wednesday. Donors are expected to purchase from the gift list on each tag, which will be given to local children for Christmas, and return them to The Salvation Army’s offices at
115 Crescent Ave., by Monday. The Salvation Army Captain Stephanie Hargis said the lack of returned tags this close to deadline is slightly below average compared to past years, noting there are typically 80-90 tags never returned.
While donors who have taken tags are urged to return the tags and gifts by Monday, the organization is also asking the community for monetary and new toy donations to account for the tags not returned, ensuring every child who is part of the Angel Tree program will receive a Christmas gift.
If someone who picked up an Angel Tree tag can no longer provide the donation, Hargis said they should let them know quickly so they can look for another donor. The Salvation Army’s phone number is 501623-1628.
Gifts to the families part of
the Angel Tree program will be distributed on Dec. 19.
“We’ve seen a lot of different families in Angel Tree this year; some who have never even had to ask for assistance due to COVID, they came to us and it was all brand- new and they just talked about the ease that it is,” Hargis said. “And some of the donors have called and wanted to do some special things, not just for the kids, but for the single mothers and that kind of thing.
“A few of them have cried tears of joy and didn’t want to get anything, but just wanted to make sure the kids were taken care of. So they’ve all been just so grateful to receive gifts and to know the fact that people in the community see that angel tag, and they have compassion on that child and they rescue Christmas for them.”