Lots of smiles as families pick up wish list donations at the Salvation Army
The skies were gloomy outside, but inside the Salvation Army’s Christmas Center on North Tryon Street, Christmas felt like it was in full swing Tuesday as parents arrived to pick up holiday gifts for their children.
Carl Springs, 83, was right where he always is on the first day of distribution: in a chair manning the roulette wheel, which families spun for the chance to win one of 1,000 bikes donated by local charity The Spokes Group.
Parents, aided by an army of volunteers, queued up outside and inside. When their numbers were called, 50 every 15 minutes, they walked up to a table to receive a giant white bag filled with gifts and hoisted them into shopping carts.
Volunteers loaded extra gifts into carts that wouldn’t fit in bags — tricycles, doll houses, toy kitchens — along with a box of non-perishable food.
Some 6,542 children are registered to receive toys and clothes through the Salvation Army’s angel tree program, which matches children in need with anonymous donors who buy the gifts. And 1,547 senior citizens will also receive gifts this Christmas.
In cases where donors don’t step up, Charlotte Observer readers cover the expense by giving to the Empty Stocking Fund. Money raised by last year’s Empty Stocking Fund allowed the Salvation Army to purchase 11,541 toys and 590 gifts for low-income seniors, in addition to 925 gift cards.
Helping people
Kenya Ocampo smiled brightly as she wheeled her large bag toward the door.
Money is tight this year, she said, and she’s grateful for the help providing gifts for her three kids, ages 7, 5 and 11 months. They asked Santa for ice skates, movies and clothes.
“This helps me so much,” Ocampo said.
Queen Funderburk, 66, sat quietly as she waited for her name to be called, but she wasn’t waiting for toys or a bike.
Funderburk has a host of medical issues, and her social worker recommended that she apply for the Silver Bells program, which provides gifts to senior citizens.
She’d asked for shoes, a new comforter for her bed, a T-shirt and a sweater — things she needs but are out of reach on her fixed budget.
She said it helps to know that strangers took the time to fill her Christmas list.
“It just feels good,” she said.