(Photo provided by Emily Martin) Tags for the Salvation Army Angel Tree program hang on a Christmas tree in the foyer of the Peoples Bank in Vienna from earlier this week. An instruction sign on how and where to deliver the purchased items is next to the tree.

PARKERSBURG — The annual Salvation Army Angel Tree program is continuing for a limited time in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

For more than 40 years, the Angel Tree program has provided children with new clothing and toys for Christmas through the support and generosity of the community.

The Salvation Army in Parkersburg has about 150 tags remaining out of the 460 total. The deadline to collect a tag and turn in the items at the Salvation Army is Dec. 8.

Lieutenant Anthony Rowe said this weekend will be a big weekend for them in terms of drop offs.

“There’s still some angels on trees at locations around town,” he said.

There are Angel Trees at the Walmart in Ripley, Vienna and south Parkersburg as well as the YMCA of Parkersburg, Ashley Furniture, Peoples Bank in Vienna, West Virginia Credit Union in Parkersburg and Vienna, and Auntie Anne’s and Claire’s.

The Salvation Army in Marietta began the yearly program on Nov. 14 and is scheduled to conclude Wednesday.

“We had about half of our Angel Tree tags received and we’re still waiting on more,” said Major Rosemarie Hughes. “We had 240 kids and each kid has two tags.”

Hughes said they’re expecting to start gift distribution on Dec. 18. In partnership with Walmart, those who wish to donate can visit participating Walmarts and select a tag or more from the Salvation Army Angel Tree.

The tag includes information about the child and the individual has the option to shop in-store or online, and can either drop the items in the collection bin at Walmart or deliver directly to the Salvation Army.

“They can drop those items off to us during our regular business hours,” said Hughes.

The Salvation Army Marietta Corps Community Center is located at 136 Front St. and is open during the late morning and mid afternoon but closed on Saturday. The participating Walmart is located at 804 Pike St.

Peoples Bank in Vienna has been a participating location for the Angel Tree program’s tags every year for the past five years, according to branch manager Emily Martin.

“We usually get an early start because they need everything by Dec. 8,” said Martin. “This year we had 25 angels and we put the tree up on Nov. 1.”

Martin said they have the tree in the main foyer so it’s easily accessible for the community to see and participate in. She said they put the tree in the foyer so the angel tags will be collected quickly.

“We have no tags left,” she said. “Our last two tags were collected on Monday.”

Martin said the branch itself sponsors a few kids and this year there were about five tags employees collected early on. She said employees at other branches had also collected tags to sponsor this season.

“I know we don’t have any tags left but there are many other kids out there still needing to be sponsored,” she said.

Martin said they aren’t a collection location and they only provide the Angel Tree tags. She said people can collect their tag at this location but they’re responsible for purchasing the items and delivering to the Salvation Army or select drop off locations.

Items must be delivered unwrapped with the angel tag placed inside of the bag containing the items to ensure the gifts are given to the right child.

Those who are interested in participating in the Angel Tree program can also visit the Vienna and Parkersburg Walmart locations for in-store shopping and donation drop offs. Participants can drop off the items at the collection bins or at the Salvation Army in Parkersburg which is located at 534 Fifth St. and open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during weekdays.

Contact the Salvation Army in Parkersburg at 304-485-4529 for more information on the Angel Tree program.