AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Salvation Army in both Augusta and Aiken kicked off the holiday season with the Angel Tree Program and Red Kettle Campaign on Wednesday.

Both organizations say the need is greater this year compared to last and are calling on the community for help in supporting so many people.

You can help provide Christmas to kids in need this year through the Angel Tree Program.

Major Jonathan Raymer with the Salvation Army of Augusta says there are 500 more kids on the list this year compared to last.

“We wanted to lean in and help as many as we could with the aftermath of Helene and so with the Angel Tree program you can reach out to us and get an Angel Tree tag which represents a child you can adopt and go and shop for,” said Raymer.

Angel Trees are up across the CSRA as well as red kettles, where you can donate in support of the Salvation Army’s mission.

“All of that money stays local in fact that money goes to support our Center of Hope which is our shelter and over the last two years we’ve gotten right at 300 people into permanent housing who have gone through our shelter,” said Raymer.

Rose Brown benefitted from this.

She spent time at the Center of Hope and was able to get permanent housing from the resources given.

“Everything I feel is a stepping stone. You use that to get ahead to move from where you are and a big part of that was for me the Salvation Army, the church, the spiritual guidance, and the love, and the service they show,” said Brown.

Across the river, the Salvation Army of Aiken is seeing an increase in need as well.

Captain Michael Good says there are 2,100 kids on the list — 800 more compared to last year.

“So many of our children live poverty day in and day out so at least for Christmas we want them to feel as if they are cared for and seen,” said Good.

Good says they are in need of more local businesses to host an Angel Tree at their location.

They currently have about 100 angels that have not left their office.

This is the first time for Cold Creek Nurseries in Aiken County to have an Angel Tree.

Linda McKebie, store manager of Cold Creek Nurseries, said: “Words can’t describe the need for children who are out there who need a little something for Christmas who don’t have anything for Christmas, so we just want to help with those kids.”

Good says it’s important to support the Angel Tree Program and Red Kettle Campaign.

“It goes to fund programs like our emergency shelter, homelessness prevention programs, food pantry, our boys and girls club and that’s why it’s such an important thing to understand those funds go to more than just Christmas efforts, but year-round to impact this community,” said Good.

COMING UP

For Thanksgiving: Salvation Army extends invitation

1. The Salvation Army will be offering Thanksgiving dinner to go from 5:30-6 p.m. Nov. 28 at the Center of Hope, 1384 Greene St.
2. Shelf-stable food boxes are also being offered to thos in need. Visit salvationarmyaugusta.org and complete a “contact us” form.

In tandem with the Angel Tree program, the Salvation Army is launching its 2024 Red Kettle Campaign. This campaign is a vital fundraising initiative that supports life-changing programs throughout the year, including food assistance, emergency shelter, and disaster response.

The Salvation Army says their goal this year is $235,000.

“The Red Kettle campaign is a critical source of funding that allows us to meet the needs of our community, especially during times of crisis,” said Major Jonathan Raymer of The Salvation Army of Augusta. “The funds raised help ensure local families have the support they need all year long.”

Jonathan says these campaigns are possible because of the community’s generosity.

“Always grateful to the community. Their amazing generosity. Their care. Grateful for all that they do. We can’t do things like the Angel Tree or the Red Kettle campaign without their help,” he said.

The 2024 Red Kettle campaign runs through December 24, 2024, with kettles placed at major retailers, including Bass Pro Shop, Belk, Food Lion, Hobby Lobby, Kroger, Sam’s Club, and Walmart locations across Augusta, Evans, Grovetown, Hephzibah, Martinez, and North Augusta. Community contributions will help sustain vital programs for individuals and families facing hardship year-round.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Mayor Garnett Johnson has named the finalist for the position of director of Augusta’s Parks and Recreation department on Wednesday after months of trying to fill the position.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Augusta Commission members decided to close the nominations for Parks and Recreation Department director.

And on Wednesday morning, Johnson sent a media advisory naming candidate Tameka D. Williams as the finalist.

This comes after the commission discussed how many vacancies each department has. There are 109 vacancies across the city that when filled would account for $4.9 million. That’s 4% of the 2025 general fund budget.

Also during the meeting, commissioners failed to approve an audition of the Parks and Recreation Department. It will likely go back before commissioners next month.

The position was first opened in March and closed on April 6, after the former chief quit while he was facing a penalty after a human resources inquiry.

Officials said in June more than 58 people applied, but only 16 met all the qualifications.

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NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) -Debris crews are doing slow but steady work clearing the mess from Hurricane Helene.

We’re more than halfway through the 90-day period where FEMA will fully reimburse cities for disaster cleanup.

On Tuesday, North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams held a meeting at Victory Baptist Church to discuss debris recovery.

City leaders were letting people know what to expect as the city goes into its next phase of cleanup.

Crews have collected more than 400,000 cubic yards of debris in the county as a whole and other counties are well on pace to get everything done.

Day 54 of crews working through the thick of it to get things cleaned up in Richmond County.

Alice Brook says it’s been a month and a half full of headaches and surprises, trying to navigate through debris and working through a new normal.

“Well, I don’t think the neighborhood will ever be the same except for a potted plant right there,” said Brook. ” I have nothing green left in my yard, no bushes, no trees, nothing.”

Brook says seeing the crews doing their work is the silver lining behind all of this.

“One thing at a time,” she said. “That’s the only way I can take it. We have had a lot of our piles picked up, but we had a lot more trees to come down and have to be cleaned up than I would have ever guessed.”

Contractors say they’re a little more than halfway done in Richmond County with 1.4 million cubic yards of debris collected.

Columbia County isn’t far behind with a little more than 1 million cubic yards collected as well.

Aiken County has 400,000 cubic yards collected.

Meanwhile, Brook says her community continues to have hope in getting everything back in shape for the sake of some normalcy.

“It feels like we’re living in a war zone,” said Brook.

Every county we spoke to says they’re working the best they can to meet FEMA’s 90-day period to get everything cleaned up, but they say at this point it’s looking more like a miracle.

Richmond, Aiken and Columbia counties say the next phase will involve a second pass-through of neighborhoods, but they say the biggest challenges are still the weather, shorter days and utility lines still being too low for heavy machinery to operate.

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