Every year the students and staff of Dabney S. Lancaster County College in Alleghany County put aside their studies and get into the holiday spirit.
"For me personally, it's fun to see what comes in and the time and effort people have gone to," says Student Activities Coordinator Cynthia Boteler.
These gifts are for the "angels" adopted by the school.
Each angel represents a needy boy or girl.
"They probably wouldn't have a very good Christmas. There's nothing sadder than a child waking up on Christmas and nothing under the tree," explains Salvation Army Social worker Kimm Robertson .
The Salvation Army's Angel Program works to connect those kids with good samaritans.
But, that work has been hard to accomplish in Covington and the Alleghany Highlands.
"The economy is very poor here, we have a high unemployment rate. So, this year especially- we're having a lot of folks who are coming to us for assistance who've never had to ask before," explains Major Hilda Chadwick.
The need is up and the donations are down.
Just days before gifts are due- there are still empty spaces where those presents should sit and 8-angels who haven't been adopted yet.
Says Robertson, "You depend on your community and when your community can't help, it hurts."
The Salvation Army is in the business of making miracles.
It's confident its 278-"angels" will get something, even if it's a hodge-podge.
But, the organization plans on enlisting a higher power to help.
"I'll start praying a lil harder and hopefully by the end of the week we'll be able to have more of these blocks filled up," says Chadwick.
Click here to learn how you can help.
