MN-C Christmas Angels helped 308 Pittsburg County children
Dec. 15—Trevor Tannehill said he looks forward to helping deliver presents each year collected by the McAlester News-Capital's Christmas Angels project.
Tannehill, who owns and operates Tannehill Furniture in McAlester, has donated the use of his delivery truck and employees three times since the project began in 2020.
"Being able to help deliver the Christmas Angels gifts to the schools is something we look forward to being able to help with each year," Tannehill said. "Seeing the amount of work that goes into making sure these kids have Christmas and seeing how many gifts there are always amazes me."
More than 300 children from across Pittsburg County were helped through the News-Capital's Christmas Angel project this year.
Employees from the paper and volunteers began delivering gifts to schools this week after working tirelessly sorting and bagging the gifts as they came in from the community.
Tannehill Furniture employees Broedy Mitchamore and Cordell Turner spent Thursday morning delivering presents to schools in the McAlester area.
The McAlester News-Capital and McAlester Lions Club started the Christmas Angel project in 2020 as a way to help people in need during the holidays at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community support has made it possible for more than 1,600 Pittsburg County children in need to receive gifts and clothes since the inaugural event.
Toliver Chevrolet has since partnered with the MN-C and made a sizable donation this year in a partnership that helps get more gifts and clothing for the children.
"We can't thank Toliver Chevrolet enough for partnering with us on this project to help our community over the holidays," MN-C Publisher Reina Owens said. "We can't wait to get all the gifts delivered to the schools, so our community's children have a merrier Christmas."
The News-Capital began to receive Christmas Angel nominations from area school counselors in late October and early November before the public was able to adopt an Angel in late November with all Angels being adopted.
Cards on trees at the News-Capital represented a child in and around Pittsburg County needing assistance over the holidays. Each child on the tree is anonymous and receives at least one outfit, shoes, toys, jacket, and gloves — along with a toy from their wishlist.
Tannehill said he hopes the community continues to support the project every year.
"The people of McAlester and surrounding areas are always generous with this and I'm happy to be able to help," Tannehill said.
