A small group of Fulton County residents stepped up to fill a need in the community in the absence of the traditional Angel Tree. Due to concerns of COVID-19, the Fulton County Department of Human Services (DHS) has opted to cancel the Angel Tree event this year, however; the Fulton Christmas Drive is underway for Fulton County resident children.
Registration ends Nov. 5, however; so those who wish to participate need to contact Leann Gambling, coordinator of the project at (870) 371-1638 if you would like a Fulton County child to be able to participate in the event.
“When Fulton DHS stopped doing the Angel Tree (in 2020), we pulled it off last year,” Gambling said. What pretty much started as a group of three concerned residents is now accomplished by a band of seven or eight. “We have the same crew this year,” Gambling said. The second year of the event promises to be even better.
“We had about 150-some adopted last year,” Gambling said describing the volume of assistance the community was able to generate, but there was more. “The kids who didn’t make the first deadline to be adopted also were able to participate…close to 700 kids in all.”
The adoptions she speaks of are local people and churches who accept the information on the initially registered kids so that they can work to provide some comforts of the season. If you’d like to “adopt” a child for this event, please text (to 870-371-1638), call, or send a private message to Leann Hopper Gambling through Facebook and let her know how you’d like to help. Adoptions will be made November 10.
The organizers are also in the process of collecting items to be distributed to the kids.
Good used toys and youth clothing, “We really need that,” Gambling said. Please send items unwrapped as they will be inspected and cleaned or sanitized by the organizers. They are also accepting non-perishable food.
“A donation came in a pickup bed of new or nearly new toys,” Gambling said excitedly. It was a greatly appreciated and helpful resource to the organization. They hope to gather the majority of items Nov. 6-10, but the process will continue until Dec. 3.
Here’s how it works: Children are nominated and details are given to Gambling by Friday, Nov. 5. When nominating a child, details will be required about the child to help personalize the gifts which will be given. Information includes, the child’s age, gender, clothing sizes (pants, shirt, shoes right down to underwear/diaper/pullups), and what they would like – what kind of toys are they interested in, favorite colors, favorite characters.
During the first week of December, calls will be made to parents of the kids and arrangements made for Dec. 11, a little earlier this year than last, to pickup of their surprises.
For those who would like to make a monetary donation, the Salem Assembly of God works with Gambling to ensure the money goes to directly fund the project, or funds may also be given to Gambling directly to be placed in the account.
