SPRINGDALE -- Families across Northwest Arkansas will be able to have a Christmas dinner and gifts for their children because of the Angel Tree program.
The program, organized by the Salvation Army of Northwest Arkansas, will help about 900 families this year, said Maj. N.J. Pope, commander of the regional branch of the organization. Those families wouldn't be able to afford gifts for their children without help.
Fast Facts (w/logo)
Angel Tree
Salvation Army Of Northwest Arkansas’ Angel Tree program began in 1986.
• 900 families with 2,500 children will receive gifts and food for Christmas.
• Tyson has donated chicken for more than 20 years.
• Tyson donated 30,000 pounds of chicken this year.
• Almost 800 Walmart employees volunteered to prepare packages.
• H.C. Schmieding Produce Co. in Springdale donated potatoes.
• Eggs were donated by Arkansas Egg Co. of Summers.
• Redman & Associates donated two truck loads of toys.
• Distribution of the gifts and food will take place by appointment Wednesday through Friday.
Source: Salvation Army of Northwest Arkansas
The program is serving about 300 fewer families this year than last, Pope said. He didn't know why, but said they had fewer applicants this year.
A building at 2100 Turner St. was full of gifts on Tuesday. Boxes filled with toys sat in rows with a name on each. Among the items were bicycles, tricycles, skateboards, clothes and doll houses.
More toys sat in piles next to rows of bicycles in the back of the building. Three rooms nearby were filled wall to wall with bicycles. Tyson and Walmart trailers sat in the parking lot with chicken, potatoes and eggs inside.
Many of the items were donated by community members and companies, Pope said.
It's important for Tyson to contribute, because one in four people in Northwest Arkansas is food insecure, which means they don't know where their next meal will come from, said Joy Stanley, dispatch coordinator. Forty percent of those are children.
"Food insecurity doesn't take a holiday," she said.
Tyson has donated to the program for more than 20 years, Pope said.
The Salvation Army started taking applications from families in the fall, Pope said. The trees with names hanging from them were placed in Walmart stores and other locations across the region.
Walmart employees and other volunteers helped assemble the boxes of gifts, Pope said.
The program gives hope to those in need, said Kathy Wetsell, a volunteer with the Salvation Army of Northwest Arkansas Women's Auxiliary Group. It helps show them there are people in the community who care.
"I've been blessed," she said. "I'm a fortunate person, so I want to share my time to help other people."
Kelly Rothschild, another volunteer, said she's volunteered for different organizations over 30 years, but this is her first year volunteering with the Angel Tree program. She said the fulfilling feeling she gets from giving back to the community is indescribable.
Distribution of the gifts and food begins today and continues through Friday, Pope said. Families have appointments, and volunteers will serve groups of 15 families in 15-minute increments.
NW News on 12/17/2014