When toys and Christmas gifts are distributed this morning to the Angel Tree children, there will not be an empty stocking.

During the final week of the Salvation Army’s drive, the community responded to see that all children from the tree were adopted and all of the names were returned.

The full house of gifts at the old National Guard Armory, Major Tonya Roberts said, is a credit to everyone who stepped up to help.

“We want to thank all the people in the community,” she said. “The radio stations, ALEX FM and Dixie 100, and the Charity League. The Charity League has been the big sponsor behind this and really took it on as their project. These ladies have been behind and really pushing people to help us.”

Having all of the children’s names returned is big, Roberts said, because that hasn’t always been the case in Selma.

“The Lord blessed us because that doesn’t always happen,” she said. “Last year we had a lot that didn’t get returned, but we did have extra money that came in so anything we needed we were able to go out and get.”

Also, she said, having all of the children accounted for will help the Salvation Army provide further services throughout the year.

“The tremendous thing is that people gave money specifically for this, which frees us up to use other money to help people throughout the year,” she said. “When all the people came through that meant we could use some of the other money to help people with light bills and things like that the rest of the year.”

Last year money from out of state was needed to make sure all of the angels had a Christmas gift. This year, Roberts said the program was funded entirely by the Black Belt.

Help came from the top of the city’s leadership down to the average citizen of Dallas County, she said.

“We’ve had a lot more people volunteering to ring the bells, even the mayor,” she said. “That has been a tremendous help.”

Major Eric Roberts said he was grateful to everyone that helped out.

“We just want to say thanks,” he said. “Thank you to everyone that helped make this possible.”