Half the children on Salvation Army’s Angel tree not adopted

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
Almost half of the needy children represented on this year’s Salvation Army Angel Trees didn’t get adopted.
Of the 1,449 children included on the trees ó up from 1,250 last year ó only 775 were adopted, according to Maj. Robin Starr, who heads up the Salisbury branch of the Salvation Army with his wife, Pam. That leaves 674 children without gifts.
Though the trees were taken down as scheduled Monday, Starr is asking people to bring donations of clothing and toys for children under the age of 12 to the Salvation Army headquarters at 620 Bringle Ferry Road.
Among the toys requested by children on the Angel Trees are: ride toys, punching bags, learning toys, Dora and Hannah Montana merchandise, trucks, dolls, games, backpacks, play makeup, trains, planes and books.
Starr said the Salvation Army is grateful to the people who did adopt children from the Angel trees. “We know we have a very supportive community,” he said.
As for the 674 children who still need gifts, Starr said he is hoping the community will continue that support by donating clothing and toys or money to buy clothing and toys. What doesn’t come from the community will come from the money the Salvation Army uses to assist people throughout the year with food, clothing, rent and utilities.
“We’re going to provide it one way or the other,” he said. “We feel that every child should have Christmas.”
Donations of food and money to buy food are also being accepted to provide Christmas meals to 798 qualifying families. The meals consist of either a Cornish hen, turkey or ham with green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and a dessert.
If enough canned food is collected, Starr said extra cans will be included with each meal. Last year, the Salvation Army provided Christmas meals, assistance with gifts or both to more than 700 families.
Volunteers are needed for the food and gift distribution to be held Thursday and Friday at the former location of Windsong bike shop beside Pizza Hut on Jake Alexander Boulevard.
On Monday, Starr said, parents who did not apply for assistance during the days set aside for applications earlier this month will be able to stop by the Salvation Army and complete an application for any donations that are left.
Starr said this year’s Red Kettle Campaign is also bringing in fewer donations than last year. “Right now, we’re down about $4,000 from last year at this time,” he said.
Last year, the Salisbury branch of the Salvation Army collected $47,000 in donations through the Red Kettle Campaign.
Red kettles are located at the following locations: Big Lots, Harris Teeter, IGA in Cleveland, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Magic Mart, Salisbury Mall and Wal-Mart.
For more information on the Salvation Army’s Christmas projects or to volunteer to ring a bell for the Red Kettle Campaign or distribute meals and gifts Thursday and Friday, call 704-636-6491.
The Salvation Army is a United Way agency.