TROY Montgomery spreads holiday cheer through Salvation Army Christmas Stocking program

In the midst of an unusual year, faculty and staff at Troy University’s Montgomery Campus have taken their efforts to provide a happy holiday season for those in need to an even greater level.

For years, the campus’ employees have celebrated the Christmas season by stuffing stockings to be donated to the Salvation Army. After donating 187 stockings last year, a goal of 200 was set for this year’s campaign.

Employees, along with the help of LIFT, a Montgomery area Christ-centered academic ministry that assists the parents of home school students ages 12 through 18, donated 255 stockings. LIFT students have participated in the effort for many years, and this year contributed 55 stockings to the effort.

Students from LIFT, a Montgomery area, Christ-centered academic ministry that assists the parents of home school students, have helped the Montgomery Campus’ effort for several years and this year, donated 55 stockings to the project.

The stockings designated for children will go to those on the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. The stockings for adults will go to the elderly, who have registered to receive food boxes.

Annual participation in the project takes on a special meaning for Montgomery Campus Vice Chancellor Ray White.

“When I was a child in North Carolina, we were very poor, living in a textile mill village,” White said. “My father made very little from the mill, so Christmas gifts for six children were out of the question. The only thing my brothers and sister got at Christmas was a stocking from the Salvation Army and a small candy and fruit bag from a local church. We were all very excited to receive a Christmas stocking on Christmas morning that my mom had picked up at the Salvation Army. Perhaps this Christmas, other children will feel the way my brothers and I and my sister felt many years ago.”

White said TROY Montgomery faculty, staff and friends always rise to the occasion to help others, especially during the holiday season.

“The Montgomery Campus faculty, staff and friends of TROY are always honored to participate in the Salvation Army Christmas Stocking Program,” he said. “We all hope that the children and adults in need will have a brighter and more cheerful holiday season when they dig into their stockings this year. I’m very pleased that TROY employees and friends of the University continue to have a heart for giving.”