Christmas presents

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: December 16, 2008

Today’s the last day to pluck an “angel” card off one of the Salvation Army’s three Angel Trees in Danville.

Angel Trees are Christmas trees decorated with cards bearing gift requests from needy local children. Taking an angel card off one of the trees at Piedmont Mall, Danville Regional Medical Center or Wal-Mart puts one local child one step closer to having Christmas presents.

“We didn’t give up and we’re not going to give up,” Capt. Allen Tanner of The Salvation Army said Monday.

The Salvation Army has taken the unusual — but understandable — step of extending the deadline to “adopt” an angel until today. The slowing economy has pushed the gift requests of 3,000 local children age 12 and under into the pool of perspective angels.

Strange as it may seem, some people have started calling the current recession the “Great Recession.” But does any economic slowdown need a name when people are losing their jobs and homes and all kinds of businesses are being hurt?

Of course not.

Recessions are part of the economic cycle. Over time, this one will end, just as all the others have. We all know that. And for most of us, the rhythm of life will continue during this season of joy and hope.

Christmas is about a whole lot more than receiving gifts, of course. But for a lot of needy local children, the Angel Tree is their best chance of getting a gift they really want.

All it takes is a little effort, time and money to make a big difference in the life of a child whose parents or grandparents can’t help them at this time of the year.

“We really need the community to help us out and adopt these angels,” said Kimberly Jones, The Salvation Army’s accounts clerk. “There’s definitely more on the trees than we want.”

After today, The Salvation Army will do what it has always done: It will work with what it has. It will try to do something for the children whose Angel Tree cards weren’t picked up. The group is a constant credit to its high ideals.

But under no circumstances should today be one of those days when people wonder what they can do to help this community’s less fortunate children.

Want to make a difference? Go to Piedmont Mall, Wal-Mart or Danville Regional and adopt an angel. Today’s your last chance — and theirs.