Virtual Angel Tree: Support a Pender Co. family in need for the holidays

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — With hundreds of students displaced after Hurricane Florence, Pender County Schools has come up with a way for you to help for the holiday season and you don’t even have to leave the couch.

“We’re all trying to pitch in together, trying to make sure that we get them through and they’re not forgotten about after a few weeks, that this is something we got them all the way through.”

Earlier this week, Pender County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Hill says the school system launched a program aimed at helping those displaced by Florence.

“We have now over 800 students that are homeless or displaced,” Hill said. “We’re at almost 80 staff members.”

He says many of those families have lost everything and now must start over. Hill and other school leaders came up with the idea to create a Virtual Angel Tree for the holidays.

“Between now and the 16th families can sign up,” Hill said. “Supporters can sign up at any time to adopt a family or child.”

Once all the families are signed up, supporters will receive a list of needed supplies.

He says drop off locations will be at every high school in the county.

Unlike the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program held each year at Independence Mall everything can be done online, even the donations.

“People who are out of state or who may not be able to get to the sites can absolutely contact us to mail things in,” Hill said.

He says if you want to order items from Amazon or other retail websites, you can have them shipped to the Pender County Board of Education building at 925 Penderlea Hwy, Burgaw, NC 28425. He says add a note saying that it’s a gift and who it’s for.

The program launched on Tuesday and Hill says it’s already seen a lot of attention.

“We’re seeing just massive number of supporters from industry, and from families who are pitching in and want to help,” Hill said.

If you would like to sign up for an angel tree or support a family, you can do so here.