Kids Help With Angel Tree Gifts

Salvation Army gets truck full of toys from Cordova high teens

Kathleen Kennedy's Cordova High classroom looked Tuesday like Santa came early.

There were so many bicycles and bags of toys that there was barely space to walk.

The school's Student Government Association collected so many toys that the Salvation Army had to bring a big yellow rental truck to haul them away.

"I didn't expect all of this," said senior Brittany Hopper as she and her classmates carried the bags to the truck.

Classmate Brandi Williams was beaming with excitement.

"It just feels good to give to the students who won't have as fortunate a Christmas as us," the sophomore said. "They want to have a good Christmas, too."

The work was part of Memphis City Schools' first MCS Give Fest, a systemwide holiday toy drive.

Over the course of a week, students, teachers and staffers in schools and administrative offices collected toys for the Salvation Army's Angel Tree.

Most were designated for "forgotten angels," those angels who were not adopted or were adopted and their gifts were not given in time for distribution.

Nearly 97 percent of the school-age children served by the Angel Tree program attend Memphis public schools, said Teresa Dickerson, MCS marketing manager.

The Salvation Army plans to bring Christmas joy to more than 7,000 senior citizens, children and their parents this winter, said Elizabeth Duncan, Director of Development for the Salvation Army.

"We are always thrilled when we have a partnership with people who want to be a part of the Angel Tree program," she said. "Nobody wants a child to wake up on Christmas morning and not have toys."

Kennedy, who is the sponsor for Cordova's Student Government Association, said the toy drive is part of the school's focus on community service.

Each club promotes "service over self" and all groups complete a community service activity.

As a reward for collecting the most, the Cordova students will be treated to a pizza party, courtesy of Pizza Hut.

The Salvation Army is still in need of people to adopt 300 more angels. Those wishing to help can visit the Army at local malls, including Wolfchase and Oak Court through Saturday.

The toys will be distributed on Dec. 15.

-- Dakarai I. Aarons: 529-6515

By Dakarai I. Aarons
The Commercial Appeal
December 5, 2007