Salvation Army begins season
of giving

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Nov. 23, 2003
Charles Alderman put on his red Salvation Army apron and rang his small, red bell for the first time this year on Friday.
Alderman, an advisory board member of the local Salvation Army for the past 16 years, stood at the main entrance of Bonita Lakes Mall and manned the donation kettle.
Alderman said the Salvation Army's red kettle campaign is one of its main sources of funding.
Friday marked the first day the organization collected the money and Alderman was one of several board members who volunteered an hour each to kick-off this year's campaign.
Other volunteers were stationed at the entrance of several local businesses, including the Wal-Mart Supercenter.
The Salvation Army also officially kicked off its Angel Tree program, which provides needy children with Christmas gifts. A Christmas tree inside the mall near the Goody's entrance is covered with cards that include the names of the children, their sizes and what they want and need for Christmas.
People can choose names from the tree and purchase their gifts for Christmas.
Kim Miles, a secretary and social worker at the Salvation Army, said 952 area children will benefit from this year's Angel Tree program.
On Friday, officers from the Meridian Police Department manned the tree in the mall and helped people select angels from the tree.