Angel Tree Salvation Army is giving away toys, clothes on Friday | Popgen Tech

The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program takes days, even weeks of invisible work, but it’s all worth it in the end when clothes and toys are distributed to families.

“It’s fantastic,” said Salvation Army Major Joanne Mouret. “These people trust us to help them at a time in their lives when they need help.”

On Friday, more than 250 families served by the Salvation Army of Iredell County received gifts and another 100 children received clothing and toys through various partnerships with businesses and organizations, Murray said.

Along with the gifts that are expected, clothing, hats, gloves and shoes are donated to meet those needs, something Moure said the Salvation Army is also proud of.

She said a number of companies and businesses, including Banner Drugs, Allen Tate Realty, CR Onsrud, Famous Toastery, First Baptist Church, GG’s Art Frames Gifts, GXO Logistics, Hexpol Compounding, Iredell Recreation Center, Iredell Health Systems, Kewaunee Scientific Corp, Main Street Antiques, Mooresville Ford, Mooresville Tattoo Co., NGK Ceramics, Studio Salon 180, Ascent Tubular Products, Weber Screwdrivers, Walmart Statesville and Mooresville, Sam’s Club, Flow Toyota, Randy Marion Ford, Randy Marion Chevrolet and many more generous groups and individual donors have helped make the Angel Tree program possible.

Volunteers are key to the Angel Tree program’s success, but Moure said illness and tough economic times made it difficult this year, even though some of their volunteers return each year. She said Jim Fields, Mary Horne and Sue Garavaguila were critical to Friday’s preparations, as were board members and others who helped out.

The hard times also extend to the Red Kettle program, as Murray said they are far behind last year’s roughly $55,000 raised, with about $30,000 raised so far.