MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Salvation Army has kicked their holiday activities into overdrive.
Over 100 volunteers from across North Central West Virginia have joined to help collect donations and give out some holiday cheer as part of their annual Angel Tree campaign. Captain Dennis Smith of the Morgantown area chapter of the Salvation Army is among those organizing the children-focused giveaway as well as supporting the well-known Red Kettle campaign and other holiday programs.
“This year we went really hard on a food box program, where we gave people one or two boxes of food, along with all kinds of other things,” said Smith on some of what has been done during the holiday season. “And we just wanted to try and alleviate some of the struggles that are there,” he said.
According to Smith, over 1,200 gift packages were made for Morgantown area children as part of the Angel Tree program. This included donations from residents who shopped in area Walmart locations as well as stores in Morgantown area shopping centers. Those packages were handed out by over 50 volunteers who will also assist at their Hazel’s House of Hope location and around the North Central region during the holidays.
“We are handing out our Angel Tree gifts to those in need this year, and the total, with all of the areas, was around 1,200 packages given out to children,” said Smith.
Volunteers have also been out in full force around Morgantown area grocery and department stores as part of the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign. According to Smith, volunteers from not only Monongalia County but also neighboring Marion and Preston counties have reached out and have been ringing the traditional red bells between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to help those in need. Bell ringing for the Red Kettle campaign will continue until Christmas Eve with a chance to donate digitally.
“There’s an NFC, it’s a little tab, and you just tap your phone to it, and it’ll go right to our giving webpage,” said Smith on one of the new features for the Red Kettles. “That should be on every single kettle,” he said.
The Morgantown area Salvation Army will also continue to support other organizations during the holiday season. On Christmas Day, they will host a free dinner at Hazel’s House of Hope with the Grace Shelter partnering to host the meal for those less fortunate. With activities taking place throughout the Christmas holiday, Smith and other members of the Salvation Army are just happy to serve the Morgantown community.
“We have so many phenomenal and generous folks who live in the counties that we serve,” said Smith with gratitude over the community support of the Salvation Army. “That helps us, to be both forward and to be able to help people,” he said.
Mailed-in and online donations are also accepted, with information on how to do so available at The Salvation Army Morgantown’s website.