Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry's (ABBCM) Christmas Angel Shop officially opened on Monday, Nov. 28.
The shop, housed next to the NC License Plate Tag Agency off Smokey Park Highway in Buncombe County, is held in a space that's been provided by Ingles for the past four years.
For families struggling to pay their bills this year amid these tough economic times, organizers with the Christmas Angel Shop say leave the gifts to them. The number of families in need of help getting presents under the tree is expected to be quite larger, too.
"There are a lot of families in need and we'd rather that they spend their money on the things that are necessities, food and clothing, rent and utilities. We're trying to provide them gifts for their kid," said Jordan Linkston, the Christmas Angel Coordinator -- also known as the "Chief Angel."
Last Christmas, Linkston said they served almost 1,200 kids. This year, they're expecting as many as 1,500 applications.
"So far, we're at 960 applications," Linkston said. "I know I'm getting applications in every single day."
The shop is an annual effort through which the community and ministry supports families in need for the holidays.
"We have sponsors who directly buy gifts for families who apply to the Christmas Angel Program," Linkston said. "Once they've shopped for those gifts they bring them here; we prep them for the parents to pick up just in time for Christmas. For the families that don't get directly sponsored, we have toy drives throughout the county where people are collecting toys for us, bringing them here; we set them out along those tables there. Volunteers come to the shop, can walk around, pick out things based on the children's Christmas wishlists, prep everything for the parents, get everything ready."
Linkston said they've got about 360 kids who have not been sponsored yet this year. Click here for information on how to sponsor a family.
As for toy donations, various collection boxes have been set up throughout the county, like at all First Citizens Bank locations in Buncombe County, four IHOP locations and various churches and other businesses. Organizers recommend you bring those toys no later than Dec. 17.
"It's just fantastic to see the community coming together, all of the businesses and churches that are holding toy drives, all of the people who are sponsoring families," Linkston said.
Linkston said they would like for the community to keep a particular age group in mind when donating gifts: teens.
"Our big need for donations is always gifts for teenagers," Linkston said. "They're often overlooked by sponsors, a little underrepresented in toy drive stuff. It doesn't have to be expensive, it does not have to be difficult. Teens are asking for really simple things."
They also accept monetary donations to go toward purchasing gifts. Click here to donate.
In addition to donations, ABBCM would also love for folks to give their time.
"We definitely need volunteers," Linkston said. "There's always something to do at the Christmas shop. You can fill a child's wishlist, you can prep gifts for the families that are about to come in; we need people to call families to let them know 'your gifts are ready to pick up.'"
Click here for information on volunteering. Linkston said bilingual volunteers are also great in helping their Spanish-speaking families.
The Christmas Angel program is accepting applications from folks in need up to Dec. 23. To apply for assistance, you can go to one of ABBCM's crisis ministry locations:
- Crisis Ministry: 24 Cumberland Ave., Asheville NC 28801 - (828) 259-5300
- South Crisis Ministry: 10 Buck Shoals Rd, Arden, NC 28704 - (828) 259-5302
- Hominy Valley Crisis Ministry: 1914 Smokey Park Hwy, Candler, NC 28715 - (828) 259-5301
- North Samaritan Crisis Ministry: 403 Weaverville Hwy, Asheville, NC 28804 - (828) 259-5303
Linkston said this is a program that not only means a great deal to the families who benefit, but also the community as a whole.
"It is so touching when a family comes in," Linkston said. "We bring out their gifts, and you can just tell how emotional they get with the outpouring the community has provided for them."
Even with the increased need this year, Linkston is confident the community will come through, like it always has.
"Every year, we worry about what's going to happen, and every year our needs are met and exceeded thanks to the community," Linkston said.
For more information on ABBCM's Christmas Angel Shop, call (828) 259-5337 or email christmasangel@abccm.org.