Salvation Army's Angel Tree helps 138 children
From Staff Reportsreligion@newnan.com
The Salvation Army’s Newnan Service Center helped 138 children through the Angel Tree program during the Christmas season.
The Army’s local activities during Christmas were a topic of discussion at the Jan. 17 advisory board meeting. Stephanie May, center director, termed the project “a huge success.” She said the children were from 58 families and commented there were “a lot of new faces I saw this year.”
A holiday event was held at the thrift store on Dec. 7. Santa Claus visited, and photographs were made. May said the event was enjoyable and worth repeating in December 2013.
The Red Kettle drive raised $36,296.72. That number was down from the 2011 total, but it was noted there were many fewer volunteers to ring bells.
“I don’t know if it was the weather. There was so much going on in the world,” May said, noting some groups were seeking help for victims of Super Storm Sandy about the same time the kettles were in place.
“I’ve asked several volunteers what they thought. They noticed people just were not giving as much,” May said.
“I do think Sandy had an impact,” Bette Hickman, co-chairman of the advisory board, commented. She also said, however, that board members must take a more active role in 2013 – working to get more groups and individuals to volunteer for the kettle project.
She suggested board members could speak to civic groups and encourage people to sign up to ring bells and collect money at the kettles. “I think the board needs to become more involved,” Hickman said.
Fred Miles, who volunteered with the Red Kettle drive, was a guest at the meeting and garnered praise from May. “He really stepped up to the plate,” she said.
Hickman also spoke of the need “to strengthen the committee structure as we move forward.” Plans are being made to use committees more and to streamline the naming of officers.
Advisory board members Margaret Headley and Josh Hickman talked about plans for a road race to be held at the Coweta County Fairgrounds on May 18.
