Local charities short thousands of donated gifts for children

With its Christmas gift distribution a week away, the Salvation Army of Wake County said Tuesday that it is still short donations needed to fulfill the holiday wishes for more than 2,000 children in need.

Posted 6:02 p.m. Dec 11, 2012 — Updated 12:05 a.m. Dec 12, 2012

RALEIGH, N.C. — With its Christmas gift distribution a week away, the Salvation Army of Wake County said Tuesday that it is still short donations needed to fulfill the holiday wishes for more than 2,000 children in need.

"With the holidays, you just have to believe in miracles," Haven Sink, the charity's director of public relations, said. "At this point, we're kind of hoping for that miracle."

Sink said that, this year, there are more than 8,700 children in the Salvation Army's local Angel Tree program – about 900 more than last year.

Volunteers still need new toys and clothing, especially for children ages 8-12.

It's a similar challenge for the Durham Rescue Mission, which is in need of 12,000 new, unwrapped toys for its Annual Christmas Community Toy Giveaway.

"(Donations have) been less this year," the mission's chief executive officer, Rob Tart, said. "We've got probably a third of where we want to be.

Both charities are taking donations until next week.

For the Salvation Army, donations can be made online or dropped off until Dec. 19 at the Salvation Army's Toy Shop Warehouse, at 2116-D New Bern Ave. in Raleigh.

An Angel Tree with the names and wish lists of children is also still up at Crabtree Valley Mall.

Donations to the Durham Rescue Mission can be dropped off at the mission's 1201 E. Main St. or 507 E. Knox St. campuses, and Walmart stores in Durham, Hillsborough and Roxboro are holding toy drives on Dec. 15.

They can also be dropped off at Mark Jacobson Toyota on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard in Durham until Dec. 17.

The Salvation Army is also hoping to see an increase in Red Kettle donations, which will help pay for any gifts still needed after the gift drive ends Wednesday.

Kettles are located across Wake County, including Walmart stores, Harris Teeter stores, North Hills shopping center, Triangle Town Center and Cary Towne Center.

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