Salvation Army to distribute Angel Tree Program gifts, food today

ELKINS -- The Salvation Army recently wrapped up its local Angel Tree Program initiative for 2023 with outstanding results, officials said.

The program purchases gifts for children in the community who are in need of assistance. The Salvation Army will be distributing those items, along with holiday meals for approved applicants, today at the Tygart Valley Mall.

"We have 150 children and 72 families we are giving gifts to this year in Elkins," Major Tonya Roberts told The Inter-Mountain Tuesday. "We will be handing out toys and food for all the applicants on Wednesday. We are happy that all the kids on our list will have something for Christmas." 

The Angel Tree Program, which is for infants to 12-year-old children, began collecting applications in October, and the organization started setting up trees throughout the community in the month of November. Businesses who set up trees locally included Elkins Walmart, Bealls Outlet and Pizza Hut. Patrons visiting those locations picked an angel off the tree and then purchased toys and gifts for a local child.

Roberts said the food distribution for the families will be enough to prepare a hearty meal on Christmas Day.

"Those who qualify for the meals will receive a $20 gift card for their meat," Roberts said. "And we will give them all of the perishable food during the distribution, including canned goods, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and that kind of stuff. And we even throw in a box of cereal for the family."

The local Salvation Army's headquarters are in Clarksburg. It covers a total of eight counties with the Angel Tree Program. 

"We are helping 2,000 children and 987 families this Christmas with the  program," Roberts said. "We want to say thank you to the community, especially to the locations in Elkins who sponsored an Angel Tree for us."

Another major campaign by the Salvation Army each Christmas are the red kettles it sets up at select locations. This year's spot locally is the Elkins Walmart. Roberts said that finding volunteers to ring the bells this year has been a difficult task, however.

"We've had enough volunteers in Clarksburg and other areas, but we haven't had too good of a response in Elkins," she said.

"The money that we make in the buckets stays in the community, and it not only helps support what we do at Christmas, but what we do throughout the rest of the year. Like buying food for our pantry and helping people with utility assistance. So we really need some help with the red kettles in Elkins."

The Salvation Army is setting the kettles up on Fridays and Saturdays only through Dec. 23. Those interested in volunteering are asked to call 304-637-1173 or 304-622-2360, extension 7.

The iconic Salvation Army red kettle campaign began in 1891 by Captain Joseph McFee, a Salvation Army officer who was looking for a way to cover the cost of the community Christmas meal. Recalling his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England, he recreated the "Simpson's Pot", an iron pot where charitable donations were placed by passersby.

Captain McFee placed a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing, at the foot of Market Street where it could be seen by all those going to and from the ferry boats. By 1895 the 'kettle' was used by 30 locations along the west coast and by 1897 the campaign was making its mark in east. That year, the kettle effort in Boston and other locations nationwide resulted in 150,000 Christmas dinners for the needy. The tradition continues still today. Sharing your donation at Christmastime helps The Salvation Army care for homeless and needy families, but also helps serve 30 million people through a myriad of other services all year long.