Holly Rogers helps decorate the Salvation Army "Angel" Tree at The Mallat Barnes Crossing in Tupelo.
Volunteers begin decorating the Salvation Army "Angel" Tree at The Mall at Barnes Crossing.
Capt. Leanna Marion puts up the tree as the Salvation Army gets their annual "Angel" tree program started for this year.
TUPELO — Santa’s local little helpers now have their opportunity to give back to the community with the annual Salvation Army Angel Tree program.
Tuesday morning saw the kickoff of the local Angel Tree program at the Mall at Barnes Crossing, with a performance from the Tupelo High School Madrigals. The general manager of The Mall at Barnes Crossing, Jeff Snyder, took the honor of taking the first angel off the tree.
“We are honored to participate this year,” he said, noting that the mall has partnered with Salvation Army since its opening in 1990 for angel tree. “It means so much because the first angel leads to all of them disappearing and many gifts coming along, so it’s an honor to be able to do this.”
While many families decorate their trees with baubles and heirloom trinkets, The Salvation Army decorates its tree with slips of papers that includes information about a child and what they potentially want for Christmas. These slips are free to grab at the mall for any volunteer to fulfill.
Captain LeAnna Marion said she feels very connected to the program and believes it is extremely important, adding that for many years, she personally would not have gotten a gift at Christmas if it weren’t for angel tree.
“The angel tree program is super important for those community members that are struggling, those that faced hardship during the year and those who need a little bit of assistance to get through the Christmas holiday and provide something for their children,” she said. “There were Christmases where if I didn’t have angel tree, I would not have gotten any gifts.”
This year, the program will serve about 830 children, Marion said, noting there was potential for more children and families added as the month progresses. The deadline for donations, which can be dropped off at the Mall at Barnes Crossing and or the social services building at the Salvation Army campus on 527 Carnation St, is Dec. 13.
Distribution will be on Dec. 16 in Tupelo and Dec. 18 in Amory, Marion said. Holly Ingram Rogers, a member of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, which helps organize the angel tree program among many others, said she was honored to help for another year.
“It is a lot of work, but the regards are great,” Rogers said.
