Craig County 'Angels' Bring Christmas To Hundreds Of Kids

People in Craig County have one more day to sign up for the Angel Tree. Kids are the angels, but many say the volunteers who saved the program are heroes.

I went to Vinita to see how some of Oklahoma's Own are making Christmas very merry. 

Like most 3-year-olds, David Hankins is full of energy and already looking forward to Christmas.

He's a big super hero fan. 

"Batman, Robin, Superman, Spiderman, Robin," David Hankins listed his favorite super heroes.

For his mom Cleta, it's the people behind the Craig County Angel Tree who are super heroes. In her eyes, they have super human hearts as they sign up people for a little help around the holidays. 

"If it wasn't for them, a lot of people wouldn't have a Christmas," said Cleta Hankins, a Vinita resident.

A couple of years ago, the Salvation Army wasn't able to continue the program, so volunteers and the business community stepped in to keep it running. 

"Around the holidays, that's a nightmare for a kid to wake up and not have anything to open up on Christmas Day," said Bobby Floyd, Vinita Chief of Police. 

"I'm proud of my community," said Angelic Peetoom, one of the organizers.

Last year, all 261 angels that were signed up got presents for Christmas morning.  

"Even one gift is better than none. It's 100 times better than none," Chief Floyd said.

Organizers say there is a tremendous need for the program, and that need continues to grow with the bad economy. Last year on the first day of registration, 20 people signed up. This year they had 148 on that first day.

Organizers hope no matter how many sign up this year, all will get adopted by people with generous hearts.

Cleta Hankins says the program is a blessing.

"Right now, the economy is so bad we can't afford it. We live from day to day," she said.

As for 3-year-old David, every single day, he's getting more and more excited about the lights and Christmas trees. ‘

"Riley is the black Power Ranger," he said. "Mine is big, but it don't have one of those on it."

He has high hopes for a super hero or some other toys under the tree on Christmas morning.

Craig Day, News On 6: "Who is the red Power Ranger?"
David Hankins: "Me."

The last sign up is Wednesday, November 23 from 11 until 3 at Crossroads Chevy. Presents will be distributed December 19th.