PC Christmas project underway
PHIL CAMPBELL – A local woman who has been working since the end of June to provide Christmas presents for tornado victim’s said she needs help from the community to make sure all 73 children have their wishes fulfilled.
Kristi Riddle, a resident of Phil Campbell, decided this summer to spearhead a project she’s calling “Phil Campbell Christmas,” which is similar to the “Angel Tree” programs commonly held around the holidays. People have symbolically “adopted” tornado victims between the ages of newborn to 18, referred to as “Phil Campbell Angels,” and have begun buying presents off their wish lists for Christmas.
Riddle, who is a parent and said she understands the importance of making a child’s Christmas a memorable experience, got involved in this project because of her love to help others.
“I think this will bring hope to the parents and let them know that there are people around that care,” she said.
Riddle said she has 73 children involved in the program and although each child has a sponsor, they still need help fulfilling some of the items on the wish lists and other items the children and families need.
“We are trying to raise money in the form of Wal-mart gift cards to purchase Christmas trees for 12 families in the group,” she said. “We are also trying to raise money in the form of Wal-mart or Amazon gift cards to grant wishes from the children’s lists.
“Even if you don’t have time to actually go and do the shopping, I can accept monetary donations and I can pick these things up.”
Riddle said she is also collecting food to provide to the families for a Christmas Eve dinner.
Besides the gift cards and food, Riddle said she is still in need of garbage bags to help deliver the items, gift bags of all sizes to put presents in, wrapping paper and tape to give to the families, and Christmas lights, ornaments, and other decorations.
Donation boxes to accept the items needed are set up at Burgers and Cream in Spruce Pine near the Raceway and at Body and Soul in downtown Phil Campbell.
For more information, Riddle has set up a Facebook page to coordinate all the people interested in helping with the program. The group can be found by visiting
www.facebook.com/groups/PhilCampbellChristmas. For those not on Facebook, Riddle can be contacted through e-mail at PhilCampbellChristmas@hotmail.com.
