Salvation Army hosts Angel Tree program distributes gifts to help children, seniors in need this holiday season

On Tuesday, Selemia Love was among the people who came to collect their toys to put under Christmas trees. Love picked up gifts for her eight children.

“I would say thank you and give them a big hug,” Love said of the people who donated toys.

The gifts from the generosity of the community. People take an angel from the tree, and anonymously buys gifts children up to 12 years old and seniors older than 65. Some of the gifts include bikes, hoverboards and books.

“I’m not … working right now, so it’s been really kind of hard for me,” said Fayetteville resident Taneeka Viera.

Volunteers are at the heart of the giveaway. One group is from the Fayetteville area Walgreens stores.

"It really connects us back to all the patients and customers that we care for,” said Walgreens district manager Tammy Cross. “Like, every toy belongs to someone's family, and it really helps us to put a meaning back behind what we do every day, which is care for the community."

The Salvation Army of the Sandhills is distributing gifts to more than 400 families in Cumberland, Moore, Hoke, Scotland and Robeson counties. Salvation Army project director Cheryl Grider said this year the need was greater than ever.

"They don't have any money for Christmas gifts this year because of the grocery bill being higher, rent coming due and just a lot of extra expenses or higher expenses than they're used to,” Grider said.

Grider said the pandemic just about shut the program down the past two years. Now, organizers and volunteers happy to see the community once again giving and families getting the help they need during the holiday season.