A Charlotte widow with two kids sees brighter holiday thanks to Observer readers
For Charlottean Ana Castro, making Christmas a special time for her two children is a priority. Daily life has been more challenging for the family after her husband’s death in 2021.
“It was a really tough year after his passing and even though the years have passed, it is still tough,” Castro said.
Alongside raising Anthony, age 11, and 7-year-old Annie, she works part-time as a contractor in medical interpretation for a small company. She’s also studying toward an associates degree in Spanish interpretation so that someday she can work directly for one of Charlotte’s main hospitals.
Castro, 34, immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras with her parents and siblings as a teenager. She’s already fluent in Spanish, but needs the official certification in order to advance in her career.
Making ends meet and navigating the loss of a loved one are difficult for Castro and her family throughout the year, but the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program will help make their holiday season a little brighter.
About the Angel Tree program
The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte’s Angel Tree program matches children in need with anonymous donors who buy them presents for Christmas, and provides senior citizens with gifts. In cases where donors didn’t step up, Charlotte Observer readers covered the expense by giving to the Empty Stocking Fund.
The Observer has sponsored the Empty Stocking Fund since about 1920. In the past six years, the Empty Stocking Fund has raised over $1 million thanks to Observer readers and their generous spirit.
The Angel Tree program is helping more than 1,600 families in Mecklenburg and Union counties this holiday season, including more than 3,600 children, Salvation Army officials said.
In addition to helping kids and their families, the Angel Tree program also is giving gift cards this season to more than 1,400 seniors and people with disabilities.
Money from the 2024 Empty Stocking Fund campaign also bought 4,604 toys for the 2025 effort, as well as gift cards for seniors, foster children and adults with disabilities.
What the kids would like for Christmas
Castro appreciates that her kids are not picky and that they would be grateful to receive any gifts.
But she was surprised last year, as a new participant in the Angel Tree program, that the science projects for Anthony and the scooter for Annie were exactly what they had asked for.
“With the Angel Tree program, I’m able — at least for Christmas — to get what they’re asking, or the gift they wish for…” Castro said. “They can have a happy Christmas and forget about the whole year, maybe. We might go through rough paths, but on Christmas then they will know they will have something under the Christmas tree that they will be able to open.”
She said it made her so happy to see their joyful reactions.
This year, Anthony hopes for more science-related gifts or maybe some Legos. “He’s a big fan of Star Wars,” Castro said.
Meanwhile, Annie dreams of an American Girl doll or any other gifts related to dolls.
How they will celebrate
Castro’s parents host a Christmas Eve supper at their home every year. It’s a gathering that includes about 20 people, including Castro’s siblings and family friends.
Her mom cooks the meal, and the main course varies year to year. Some years they have enjoyed barbecue ribs or stuffed chicken. Other times her mom has prepared homemade tamales.
Castro and her children also have their own special way of spending time together during the holidays.
Before their dad’s death by suicide, Castro said she and the children would accompany him each year to buy a natural Christmas tree then drink hot cocoa together. Recently, she’s switched to an artificial one at home, since a real tree would be hard to carry and install on her own.
But she and the children still make a point of visiting a Christmas tree lot near their home each winter.
“That’s one of our traditions even though we don’t get the Christmas tree as before,” she said. “We just get the cocoa and spend time just to keep a memory of him.”
How to donate
To donate online, visit EmptyStockingFundCLT.org.
To donate by mail, send checks to: The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte, PO Box 31128, Charlotte, NC 28231. Make checks payable to The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte and write “Empty Stocking Fund” in the memo line.
Questions concerning your donation? Call 704-334-4731.