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Terrellites answer emergency call for last-minute Christmas angels
By Synthia Bell: synthia_bell@terrelltribune.com
In an effort to accommodate the large number of Kaufman County families who need assistance during the holidays each year, representatives from many local businesses and organizations began their Christmas toy drives several weeks in advance. However, in spite of the advance planning, one local organization still found itself in a tight situation.
According to Mary Nann Foster, manager at the Salvation Army in Kaufman, if it had not been for the generosity and good will of the community this past Christmas approximately 400 families would have gone without traditional holiday supplies.
“We started to become concerned about a week before Christmas because there were so many names left on our angel tree,” Foster said. “Despite good efforts, the shortage of supplies rapidly worsened and we knew we would have to go back to the community to ask for additional donations if we were were going to help every family on our list.
“We suspect the shortage was the result of people adopting many of the angels with good intentions but for some reason they did not donate any of the needed supplies.”
Foster said the Salvation Army had twice as many families left for adoption compared to last year and despite the donations from businesses like Madix Inc. and KB Toys for Kids, the shortage of supplies rapidly worsened.
“KB Toys, along with Pam High and Jack Tyler from United Way, were all very instrumental in helping us to provide supplies for the remaining families,” Foster said. “After the article ran [in The Terrell Tribune], donors started coming out of the woodwork and we were able to accommodate all the remaining families.
“We had an enormous response, we received more than enough toys to give at least one game, a toy and an outfit to each child on our list.”
Foster praised volunteers who helped make the drive a success by working late every night through Christmas Eve to ensure gifts were wrapped and ready for delivery in time for Christmas.
“The response we received when we delivered the gifts this year was absolutely amazing ... they teared up and were truly grateful,” Foster said. “This has been our biggest year yet. Last year we provided supplies for 750 kids and 247 elderly at the different convalescent homes.”
Foster called the ordeal a little daunting but said in spite of the overwhelming number of families who still had not been adopted, she said she knew how “the Lord works and believed he would come through for those in need.”
Other sponsors included East Texas Crisis Center, Tri-County Ford, Rotary Club, Christian Church, Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Vista Wall and Madix.
According to Mary Nann Foster, manager at the Salvation Army in Kaufman, if it had not been for the generosity and good will of the community this past Christmas approximately 400 families would have gone without traditional holiday supplies.
“We started to become concerned about a week before Christmas because there were so many names left on our angel tree,” Foster said. “Despite good efforts, the shortage of supplies rapidly worsened and we knew we would have to go back to the community to ask for additional donations if we were were going to help every family on our list.
“We suspect the shortage was the result of people adopting many of the angels with good intentions but for some reason they did not donate any of the needed supplies.”
Foster said the Salvation Army had twice as many families left for adoption compared to last year and despite the donations from businesses like Madix Inc. and KB Toys for Kids, the shortage of supplies rapidly worsened.
“KB Toys, along with Pam High and Jack Tyler from United Way, were all very instrumental in helping us to provide supplies for the remaining families,” Foster said. “After the article ran [in The Terrell Tribune], donors started coming out of the woodwork and we were able to accommodate all the remaining families.
“We had an enormous response, we received more than enough toys to give at least one game, a toy and an outfit to each child on our list.”
Foster praised volunteers who helped make the drive a success by working late every night through Christmas Eve to ensure gifts were wrapped and ready for delivery in time for Christmas.
“The response we received when we delivered the gifts this year was absolutely amazing ... they teared up and were truly grateful,” Foster said. “This has been our biggest year yet. Last year we provided supplies for 750 kids and 247 elderly at the different convalescent homes.”
Foster called the ordeal a little daunting but said in spite of the overwhelming number of families who still had not been adopted, she said she knew how “the Lord works and believed he would come through for those in need.”
Other sponsors included East Texas Crisis Center, Tri-County Ford, Rotary Club, Christian Church, Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Vista Wall and Madix.
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