ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 7, 1995 TAG: 9512070096
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: EXTRA EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Off The Clock
SOURCE: CHRIS HENSON
Spotted my first Santa of the winter last Sunday.
He was paying ear service to a long line of kids at Valley View Mall. They sat on his lap, making shapes with their hands of the toys they will be expecting.
``It goes like this,'' they said. ``You push this thing here and it does all that.''
Or they were petrified, frozen by the arctic blast of mirth from this red-suited stranger. They stared at Mom or Dad, who waved back and assured that ``he's Santa Claus, it's all right.''
One or two kids just marveled at the runaway balloons stuck in the sky-light ceiling a million feet above Santa's Styrofoam castle and those singing robot bears.
Whether you shop the malls or downtown or from the 600 catalogs you get in the mail, you will spend most of your off-the-clock time over the next few weeks suffering from consumption. The shopping-bag ache in your knuckles, the holiday heel spurs and shin splints, the second-degree burn from a smoldering VISA card - these are the symptoms of the season.
There's a tag on the Jaycee's Cherub Tree at Tanglewood Mall that represents a 14-year-old girl from a needy family. She wants new clothes for Christmas, and the tag gives the appropriate sizes.
Her first name is on the tag, too. It's Charity.
``Usually by this time that tree is bare,'' says Becky, a customer courtesy person at Tanglewood Mall. She's a little bummed about it. The idea is that people who are shopping the mall will stop by the tree, grab a tag and be a Secret Santa for an underprivileged kid. Nothing too flashy, just a gift or two.
``I think that's what Christmas is all about,'' she says. But she believes the economy, which has slowed holiday shopping, is having the same effect on Charity's prospects.
``We're glad for the good weather,'' says Major Dan Delaney, commander of the Roanoke Valley Salvation Army. ``But good weather has an effect on donations this time of year. People see us out there ringing the bells and they say,`What are you doing out here? It's not Christmas time yet.'''
He expects 4,000 families to require assistance this Christmas season. They'll need food, warm clothes, heating fuel and toys for around 15,000 kids.
Besides the bell ringing collection efforts at the entrances of area department stores, the Salvation Army puts out Angel Trees that work just like the Cherub Trees. Delaney says those are moving a little slow as well.
The major says he can always use a volunteer. ``We logged in 75,000 volunteer hours last year,'' he says. ``A person can ring the bells. You can help us set up the Christmas shop. You can dress dolls. We've got empty stockings that need to be stuffed. You can put toys together . . . . ''
He says this is the No. 1 time of the year for donations of time, money and goods. ``We're thankful of that,'' he says. ``We've already had 1,000 volunteers who've given 10 to 15 hours apiece. They help us serve meals, they deliver things when the families can't come to pick them up.''
For the Salvation Army, everything culminates in the Christmas shop. It's a 20,000-square foot store at Salem Plaza that is set up just like a department store. A few days before Christmas, needy parents can actually shop around for appropriate toys, food and necessities. Many items are purchased with money from the bell ringing. Some are donated and some are handmade.
The angel tree gifts, however, are selected by the donor for a specific child. With 15,000 presents for as many kids, there's a lot of organizing to do. So Maj. Delaney asks that donors return with their gifts as early as they can, preferably before Dec. 15.
``I think the two most special things to me about Christmas,'' says Delaney, ``are standing out there and seeing the donors come by and give so joyously to the Christmas program. You see little bitty kids pull a quarter out of their pocket. They say, `Mommy, Mommy, can I give something?' Those kind of things can almost make you cry. Some of those people might even need something for themselves, and they go ahead and give anyway. That's the greatest blessing, just seeing people give.
``The second is being there on distribution day and knowing that any family in the Roanoke Valley, who would not have a Christmas, and their kids would not have anything, will have something because of the many people out there who gave this stuff to the Salvation Army.''
The goal is to not miss any families, he says. ``We just believe in Christmas. We believe every child should have a toy, and every family should have a Christmas meal.''
So do a lot of other people. The U.S. Marine Corps will be cranking up Toys For Tots this weekend. Local radio stations are sponsoring food drives. There's winter fuel assistance, RAM House, the Good Samaritan Hospice, Total Action Against Poverty. Virtually every church has some sort of effort going on.
They're all easy to find. Check the phone book. Or you'll see them when you're shopping.
And when you do see them, Becky and Maj. Delaney and a host of other people hope you'll take a few minutes, just a few, and reach in that pocket, or grab that angel, or even sign up...and do something for Charity.
LENGTH: Medium: 95 linesby CNB