Salvation Army passes out Angel Tree Christmas gifts

The Vicksburg branch of the Salvation Army is passing out most of the Angel Tree Christmas gifts today.

Major Janna Torgerson is heading up the initiative and advised the gifts are being distributed over three days, “Yesterday was Vicksburg Seniors, today is Vicksburg and Rolling Fork families and tomorrow is Port Gibson. It will be in Port Gibson”

Oscar Denton helped direct traffic for the Angel Tree giveaway. Photo by David Day

The Angel Tree program is for qualifying families who are in need over the Christmas season. Torgerson explains, “It’s individual to each because when we take the application we ask for a need, we ask for a wish, we ask for clothing sizes. Whatever the donor who adopts the angel is able to give, is what they get.”

Applications are taken in October and November. The Salvation Army vets the applicants and those who qualify are added to the Angel Tree. “This is our Angel Tree distribution. Those who signed up in October and November they got an appointment slip and they come to Bally’s Casino, they go to the second entrance. From there we check their ID, we check their appointment slip and then we send them on through. Our people load up their cars and they’re good to go.”

This year there were 857 individual Angels, seniors, children, and families who qualified.

As of last week, there were still 116 Angel Tree families in need when the family of Margaret Gilmer adopted all 116 to ensure every Salvation Army Angel Tree family would have a Christmas. The Gilmer family spent at least $100 per family for all 116 families.

Part of the Gilmer family Angel Tree donations. Reader submitted photo