“Here we are, only a few days from the program deadline, and we still have 200 children still on the tree,” said Keeney gravely. “I know we’ve gotten worried a few times in years past, but this year has me genuinely scared. A have a dozen angel cards sitting on my desk right now because we don’t have room on the trees to put them up.”

With nearly 500 children and more than 70 area seniors — represented by Angel cards on the trees — counting on the program for gifts to open Christmas morning, Keeney said she’s afraid the Dec. 15 deadline to return cards and gifts may come and go with many left out.

Adopting a holiday angel is simple, according to Keeney.

“They just take the Angel card from the tree and purchase Christmas gifts for that child or senior,” said Keeney. “The card has a wish list, but the gifts don’t necessarily have to be what’s listed on the card. Once you buy the gifts, you simply attach the card to the gifts and bring them to our office, or drop them off where you got the card.”

Keeney said Angel Trees are set up at the Big Spring Mall — one in the mall itself and a second inside Bealls Department Store — and Wal-Mart, with a fourth one added this week at Scenic Mountain Medical Center.

Keeney said it’s very important gift-buyers tape or tie the card to the gift to ensure the correct packages get to the right angel.

“It’s not hard at all, and it only takes a few minutes of your time,” said Keeney. “And if you don’t have time to go out and purchase the items on the list, you can make a monetary donation. You can fill the list for between $25 and $50 in most cases, but you can spend as much or as little as you would like. Every penny counts, especially with so many angels left on the trees.”

A fifth Angel Tree — bearing the cards for needy senior citizens — is located at the Big Spring Herald office.

Keeney said she and her staff will keep the doors of the Salvation Army office — located at 811 W Fifth Street — open Saturday in hopes of collecting as many gifts as possible, but if area shoppers aren’t able to provide for the last of the angels, there’s little the local charity can do.

“We haven’t been contacted by any local groups wanting to help pick up the last of the angels this year,” said Keeney. “So, there’s no safety net this year, which makes us very, very nervous. Our funds are so low right now there’s just no way we’ll be able to make up the difference. We desperately need the community’s help, or many of these children may go without this holiday season.”

Distribution of the collected gifts is expected to take place Tuesday at the Big Spring Refinery Union Hall. For more information on the Angel Tree program, call 267-8239 or stop by the Salvation Army office.

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it