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On Dec. 19, volunteers at the Salvation Army of Danville were hard at work to provide more than 250 families with Christmas presents and food for a Christmas dinner.

“That equals about 600 children,” said Salvation Army Capt. Alyssa Irvin. “Thanks to the generous spirit of those in Boyle, Garrard, Lincoln, Mercer, and Casey County we have been able to fulfill all 600 of those angels.”

Gifts given to families include toys, clothes, and even a few bikes and beds. Families are given Kroger gift cards and their choice of a ham or turkey.

Nearly 40 volunteers helped distribute the presents.

“They are really great,” Irvin said. “We have the middle school basketball team, people from the VFW. We even have two very special helpers. We have Santa Claus and his beautiful bride Mrs. Claus, they are here helping.”

During the Christmas season, the Salvation Army holds its famous. Red Kettle fundraiser campaign. It is the primary fundraiser for the Salvation Army.

“The kettle program and the Angel tree program go together, we can’t do Angel Tree without the kettles,” Irvin said. “We love our volunteers and appreciate them. We have so many people, community groups, churches, youth groups, and school groups.”

It is the Alyssa and her husband Judah’s first Christmas in Danville after being assigned here in June.

“We love Danville and the generosity here has just blown me away,” Irvin said. “We love the community and we look forward to helping others in the future. I want to make a special thank you to all our donors and those who picked an angel off the tree.”

Donations to the Salvation Army can be made in person or online at salvationarmyusa.org.