Christmas wishes for children in the Roanoke Valley can be fulfilled by simply picking a name from one of three Angel Trees in Roanoke Rapids.

Working with the Halifax County Department of Social Services this year is Becker Village Mall, Collier Harley-Davidson and the Cracker Barrel restaurant.

The Angel Tree program has been a longstanding Christmas tradition in the area, said Frankie King of the county DSS and even predates the purchase of the mall by its owner Ellen Heaton, Heaton said Friday.

The focus of the Angel Tree project is helping children from ages 1 to 19 who might not otherwise have any Christmas at all, King said. “The county does not have the funds to provide the children in its custody with the things that they wish for each Christmas. So, the community has been asked to help fulfill these dreams and wishes,” she said in email correspondence with rrspin.com. “Just because a child is not at home with his or her parents doesn't mean that they don't deserve a happy Christmas.”

The tree at Becker Village Mall.

On each tree at the three locations are decorations that contain the Christmas wishes of more than 40 children.

Helping the children is simple. Go to one of the locations, pick a name and then buy the items and return them unwrapped to the location where you picked the name.

At the mall, according to Heaton, the items can be given to mall security, one of the merchants or dropped off at the exChange Company.

“We do this every year,” Heaton said. “I think the mall’s been doing it a very long time. The things they need are clothes and toys.”

Heaton believes in the Angel Tree concept. “It’s Christmas and for some children this will be the only Christmas they get. It’s important for people who have been blessed to help those less fortunate. It’s something like paying it forward.”

King said there are a number of other volunteers helping with the Angel Tree project including First United Methodist Church, Enfield Baptist Church, Halifax United Methodist Church, Safelite and Smith United Methodist Church. “The Halifax County Department of Social Services is very appreciative of each person that takes time out of their holiday preparations to think about these special young people,” she said. “Thanks to the giving and caring Roanoke Valley, they will have a brighter Christmas.”