Angel Tree kicks off for 2009 season

By Katie Nichols (Contact) | Selma Times-Journal

Published Saturday, November 21, 2009

SELMA – Special Christmas trees around Selma will be filled with 820 ornaments. These pretty decorations aren’t the typical adornment seen on a tree, but they mean so much.

Selma’s Angel Tree Program kicked off Friday afternoon at the Selma Mall.

This year there are more children than ever.

“Last year we had 750 kids registered for Angel Tree, but this year its even more,” Salvation Army Major Tonya Roberts said. “There were only 250 of the 750 kids adopted last year and the Salvation Army supplied for the rest.”

Until Dec. 12, when all donations are due at the Salvation Army Office, people can select a name from one of the eight trees in Selma and give Christmas to a child. The locations are the Selma Mall, Wal-Greens, First Cahawba Bank, BankTrust on Broad Street, Taylorville Family Center, Selma-Dallas County Public Library, Regions’ downtown location and Taylor Medicine.

“All the families registered in October and then we checked their income to make sure they qualified for the program,” Roberts said. “Then we made ornaments with just the child’s first name and age on it.”

The Salvation Army only certain information — clothing and shoe sizes, first name, age and one or two things the child likes — in order to protect the children’s privacy. All kids on the Angel Tree Program range from an infant to 12 years old.

A few guidelines the Salvation Army hands out to people considering adopting a child suggests that a donor should only spend from $25 to $75 on each child.

Gift cards, candy and bikes are not allowed to be given. They suggest giving at least on outfit and one toy.

There are several other ways to give to the Angel Tree Program without having to stop by one of the eight locations. Donations made to the kettles go towards helping out the Angel Tree kids and donations can be made online.

This year marks two firsts for the Angel Tree Program. Nationally JCPenney is teaming up with the program and purchases can be made online. The program allows donors nationwide to provide children with gifts. The purpose of the program is to increase the number of people helped this holiday season by providing a convenient online program through which Angels can be adopted.

People from anywhere can adopt Angels from Selma. Also, shipping is free if you buy something on the site for the angel. The website for the JCPenney and Angel Tree program is angel.jcpenney.com.

Another new program for Selma is that 20 percent of the profits from Santa Claus pictures taken at the Selma Mall will go towards the Angel Tree Program.

“From Dec. 10 until Christmas Eve Santa is at the mall everyday,” Michele Bryant said. “This year we’re even here Sunday afternoon.”

Santa began taking photos Friday. He will continue taking pictures Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Then from Dec. 10 until Dec. 24 he will be at the mall everyday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. except for Sundays, which will be from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

“We have 826 kids from 326 families this year who need help,” Roberts said. “We need all the help we can get.”

People can adopt Angels until Dec. 12 when the presents are due at the Salvation Army Office, 2104 Franklin St.

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