 All children deserve a gift at Christmas. You can help. "Clark's Christmas Kids" program kicks up in November and December. 2008 was the 18th year Clark Howard and News/Talk 750 WSB joined together with the Georgia Department of Family and Children's Services to provide gifts for children in foster care across Georgia. Because of the generosity of Clark's listeners, the Christmas Kids Campaign collects about half of all the gifts DFACs gives to children in foster care. So, thank you for your support!
Help a child in your area, no matter where you live.
The 2009 Christmas Kids Campaign will resume in November! Please check back then.
If you live outside the Atlanta area, or are unable to come out to a Wal-Mart to donate a toy in person, you can donate online now. Your money will go directly toward helping the children in your neighborhood, wherever you live, through the Salvation Army Angel Tree program.
Meet our profiled family:  New faces seek Salvation Army support this holiday season
At 50 years old, Mark Carter has had sole custody of his 10-year old son Devan since birth. Six years ago, Mark's ability to continue providing for Devan was greatly compromised by a devastating car accident that left him permanently disabled. Since then Mark has learned to stretch a meager disability check to sustain a house and purchase clothing and other needs for he and his son. However, this year rising household expenses proved to be a greater burden on his limited income than ever before, and for the first time ever, Mark looked to The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program to ensure the holidays remained joyful and hopeful for his son.
"We've always been able to stretch my disability check enough to make ends meet, but this year my bills just got the best of me," explains Mark of his decision to seek the Army's help. "I found about Angel Tree through my church. If The Salvation Army could not help me, I was going to have to find someone or some other organization that could. There was just no other option."
Mark says when Devan was younger the cost of small toys and clothing was more within his financial reach, but at 10 years old, the cost of new winter clothing would amount to the cost of a week's worth of meals.
"Devan is a great kid, a good student and athletic too," says Carter. "He doesn't want much, a football, a coat, or one of those games you can plug up the television. But anything The Salvation Army provides will be a blessing and greatly appreciated by me and my son."
Each year, The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program allows individuals and corporations throughout Metro Atlanta to show their support of families like the Carters by providing a less fortunate child with new toys or clothes for the Christmas holiday.
This year, Salvation Army "angels" can be adopted at Lenox Mall, The Town Center at Cobb, North Lake Mall, Discover Mills Mall and The Mall of Georgia, Monday-Saturday, 10am-7pm, November 28th through December 12th.
Monetary donations may also be made at www.salvationarmyatlanta.org, or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
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