Giving Tree and Red Kettle kicks off holiday season at Ohio Valley Mall
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Jingle all the way to the Ohio Valley Mall to help families in need this holiday season.
On Thursday morning, Belmont County Salvation Army kicked off its annual Giving Tree and Red Kettle initiatives at the Ohio Valley Mall.
Belmont County Salvation Army Major Timothy Higgins said the monetary goal for this year's holiday season is $96,000 in donations. Last year, they raised $80,000 -- $10,000 short of their goal.
Higgins said the funds raised will not only take care of the families during the holidays but for requests the organization receives for help with utilities and rents throughout the year.
"We were short, but with the help of people here at the mall, our Giving Tree was able to at least get all of our applications taken care of with toys," Higgins said. "That’s the most important thing for me, is that no kid goes without a toy at Christmas time."
And Higgins said seeing a child go without a toy during the holidays is something he does not want to see. Even though he’s said he’s not typically the jolliest fellow, his favorite time of the year is when the families come to pick up their gifts from the Giving Tree.
"They’re so thankful, and it’s just a beautiful thing for me. That’s Christmas for me," Higgins said. "I’m not much about the running around and the craziness [of the holiday season] but that part of it I love."
The Giving Tree continues from now until two weeks before Christmas.
"We’ll take gifts right up to Christmas Eve, and we’ll still contact the families and get them out. That’s the important part," Higgins said.
Higgins said all gifts and funds donated to the Salvation Army during the holiday season goes directly to Belmont County families.
"I don’t slam other charities and how they do things, but sometimes their money goes all over the place. Ours is local dollars going to local children and local families," Higgins said.
He said he expects the organization will help nearly 350 Belmont County families.
Mall marketing director Candi Noble-Greathouse said the partnership between the mall and the Salvation Army stretches back nearly 30 years.
“This is just a very important time, obviously being a place where we want the community to come together. They come to shop, and we’re asking them to come and support the Salvation Army and the children in the area," Noble-Greathouse said. "We just love our relationship with them, and we work together all year round."
In addition to the Giving Tree and Red Kettles returning to the mall, Santa will be arriving on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Santa will arrive at Boscov's court on Saturday with the children in attendance receiving a slime kit, cookies and cocoa distributed by the Salvation Army.
Noble-Greathouse added the Salvation Army will also be wrapping gifts at the Giving Tree's location which has moved this year.
The Giving Tree is now located in- between Lids and Claire's near the mall's center court.
Noble-Greathouse implored shoppers to donate to the Salvation Army because it provides wonderful resources to community members in need.