Nov. 7, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
Nobody wants to think of a child without a gift on Christmas morning, or a warm meal to sit down to later that day.
That’s why every year, the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) joins other local non-profits and agencies to organize the Catawba County Christmas Bureau.
This is a collaborative effort to provide toys, clothing, coats and a holiday meal to families with children and teenagers in need of assistance during the Christmas season.
A key component to this outreach is The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, which is the main way new toys and clothes are collected for the event.
The CCUW recently had a chance to ask Major Karla Perez from The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory, questions about what makes Angel Trees such an important part of Christmas for so many families.
CCUW – Can you talk about the impact you've seen the program have on families in the past?
Maj. Perez – I have had families that have counted on these gifts as the only gifts that their kids receive on Christmas morning because when times are tight, they must choose between paying the rent or getting gifts, and of course, paying the rent wins.
Additionally, I have met countless people that have told me the gifts they received for Christmas when they were little came from The Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Now as adults, they give back by adopting an angel as a thank you and to teach their own children about the blessing of giving to others, and they remember how impactful it was for them when they were the receiving angel.
CCUW – Why is this program important to a community?
Maj. Perez – Christmas morning is a special time that kids look forward to and talk about for months, about what they hope they will get that day. The Angel Tree helps parents with gifts for their children so that they don’t have to worry so much about their kids having gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.
It also gives the opportunity for people in the community to bless other children. It becomes a fun tradition for some families to purchase items together for their Angel and it brings so much joy to know that they are providing a joyous Christmas for someone else.
CCUW – How many Angels are in need of adoption in Catawba County this year?
Maj. Perez – In Catawba County, we have 1,833 kids and 522 teens. The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory and High Country serves nine counties, including Catawba. The total number of kids that we have registered for all the counties is 3036.
CCUW – What should someone know about adopting an Angel? Does and don'ts?
Maj. Perez – We consider a perfect angel to be 2-3 toys, and a complete outfit with shoes. We only give out new toys and ask for items not to be wrapped. You can give the wrapping paper so that the parent has the opportunity to wrap the gifts for their kids.
ADOPTING AN ANGEL
CCUW – How can someone adopt an Angel?
Maj. Perez – If someone wants to adopt more than 15 angels, please call us (828-322-8061) so we can set you up as an Angel Tree sponsor.
You can find angels at:
- Walmart stores,
- Valley Hills Mall in Hickory,
- The Salvation Army thrift stores and at our Online Angel Tree Website.
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The due date for items to be returned is Dec. 6. You can drop them off at The Salvation Army office (750 3rd Avenue Pl SE, Hickory) or at the Toy Shop (1105 22nd St SE, Hickory, NC 28602) by that date.