By BECKY CRISSMAN
becky.crissman@cordeledispatch.com

The Adopt an Angel program, sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse Crisp, collects and distributes toys to needy children in the community during Christmas.
Thanks to countless donations from individuals, businesses, churches and civic organizations they are able to provide toys to hundreds of children each year.
Families served by theAdopt an Angel program are referred by various local agencies and children submit their Christmas wishes to be filled.
According to Lelee Phinney, director of the Gateway Center and vice president of PCA Crisp, they were able to provide Christmas for 264 families with a total of 567 children. There were also some families on the waiting list they were able to serve. Items were packaged and distributed to the families this week.
“We are grateful to be able to continue this program every year,” said Phinney. “Every child should know the joy of Christmas.”
The group thanked Sheriff Billy Hancock and the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office for bringing toys and donating money to the program and to the Georgia State Patrol who also collected toys. The Cordele Lions Club donates the use of their facility each year for collection, packaging and distribution of the items and also makes a donation and the Cordele Community League who donated. They also wished to thank all the churches, organization and individuals that contributed to the program.