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With the passing of Thanksgiving, shoppers know that Christmas is just around the corner.

Options for Christmas charity are abound in Yadkin County with organizations like The Salvation Army, Toys For Tots, Stop Child Abuse Now, Willowbrook Rehabilitation and Nursing Home, Yadkin Christian Ministries and Yadkin Valley Cruisers.

The Salvation Army offers a couple of options in giving this season. The most popular and well-known effort is the angel tree. Pre-approved needy children in the area are each listed on a paper angel. The angel will list the child’s toy wish list, clothing sizes and any other needs the child might have. The gifts will be picked up and packaged for the parents to pick up and give to their children on Christmas day.

The Salvation Army also offers a Christmas stocking program. This allows you to stuff a stocking for a needy local child with suggested items listed on the stocking as well as other non-perishable, non-breakable gifts you would like to include. You can specify whether your stocking is for a boy or a girl.

The angel tree and stocking program began on Nov. 9 and will run through Dec. 10. All tree gifts and stockings must be returned before 5 p.m. on Dec. 10. The angel tree and stocking locations in Yadkin County are:

Yadkin Family YMCA at 6540 Service Road in Yadkinville, the Yadkin County Public Library at 233 E. Main St. in Yadkinville, Yadkin Valley Bank at 117 Flint Hill Rd. in East Bend, East Bend Public Library at 420 Flint Hill Road in East Bend, Boonville Restaurant at 109 W. Main St. in Boonville and Jonesville Public Library at 150 W. Main St. in Jonesville. Please call the location for their business hours.

Willowbrook Rehabilitation and Care Center in Yadkinville will host its own elderly angel tree this year. The angels on the tree each represent a resident at the center and include a list of general gift ideas that might be helpful.

Activity Director Angel Parrish said that the angels are numbered but if the gift giver would like to learn more about their recipient for more detailed or personal gift ideas they can call her at 679-8028.

Those interested in picking up an elderly angel can do so between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Willowbrook’s lobby. All angel gifts must be returned to Willowbrook by Dec. 10 so the staff can prepare for the residents’ annual Christmas party on Dec. 13.

Yadkin Valley Cruisers is holding its annual toy drive. The club will have a toy drop off station at the Yadkinville Shell and Service Station located at 700 S. State St. in Yadkinville. Club President David Garner said that they are most in need of gifts geared towards teenagers but any age gift that is donated will be used. The club asks that any gifts dropped off be in its original packaging and unwrapped. The club will deliver these items to homes of needy Yadkin County families close to Christmas.

If you don’t have time to make it out to the store to shop you can always donate your time or money to any of these organizations or others in the area like Yadkin Christian Ministries, which provides bill and energy assistance, food and other miscellaneous items. Yadkin Christian Ministries has offices in Yadkinville and East Bend and serves Yadkin County as a whole. To learn more about donating or volunteering your time you can call 677-3080.

Tri-County Christian Crisis Ministry in Jonesville is also accepting monetary donations and volunteers. Tri-C Ministry also provides a food pantry, bill assistance and other miscellaneous needs to underprivileged Yadkin County residents. To learn more about making a donation or volunteering your time with Tri-C call 526-1089.

Reach Lindsay Craven at 679-2341 or at lcraven@heartlandpublications.com.