City invites residents to spread holiday magic

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Roseburg City employees will help bring cheer to the community through holiday gift drives – and encourage locals to participate and help spread joy this season.

City employees are buying children’s pajamas for the Douglas County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Pajama Drive and gifts of children’s clothing, toys and supplies for the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. In addition, Roseburg Police officers will participate in a “Shop with a Cop” event on Saturday, Dec. 9.

“I feel it’s important to give back to our community to help those that are less fortunate,” said City Management Assistant Autumn David, who’s organizing the City’s participation in the Angel Tree Program. “We’re already community-oriented and see the benefits in helping the lives of our residents.”

CASA’s Pajama Drive has been held for a little more than a decade to provide new pajamas to children in foster care. Boxes for CASA’s pajama drive are now set up at Roseburg City Hall’s Administration Department and the Roseburg Public Safety Center. City employees and residents can donate to the pajama drive by dropping off pajamas for children of all sizes from infant to teens XXL by 5 p.m. Thursday, November 30. Pajamas should be new, with store tags still on, and unwrapped.

Last year, residents also donated blankets and hand-made pillow cases to the drive. In addition, people can contribute money through CASA’s website or by using a QR code on the organization’s Pajama Drive flyer. Get information about drop-off locations in other areas by calling CASA at 541-672-7001.

The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program hopes to provide gifts of children’s clothing, toys and supplies to 301 Douglas County children who might not have anything else for Christmas. From newborns to 17-year-olds, the kids who get these gifts are signed up by parents who apply for “Christmas Assistance” from the Salvation Army’s Social Services Program.

Roseburg’s Salvation Army Family Service and Program Assistant Katrina Basso said the nonprofit has been flooded with requests for holiday season assistance this year, which has seen the highest number of applications in the last 10 years.

“We have seen a huge increase in need and I saw many families who have never needed assistance coming to us for the first time asking for help. So we are going to do our best to help as many children and families as possible for the holiday!” Basso said in an email.

Angel Tree tags are expected to be available at City Hall on Monday, Nov. 13. This will be the third year in a row that City employees have given to local children through this program.

To take part in this gift drive, pick up an Angel Tree tag at City Hall administration on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 to 5 p.m. Tags include the child’s name, age and gender, plus suggested gift items and sizes. Employees and residents can take as many tags as they like, but each tag must be fulfilled.

Unwrapped presents and corresponding tags should be brought to City Hall administration by Monday, Dec. 11. Gifts can be delivered in gift bags. Staff will deliver gifts to the Salvation Army on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

In addition, the Salvation Army in Roseburg will host a walk-in event, “Operation Joy” on Thursday, Dec. 21. Parents who weren’t able to sign their children up for the Angel Tree or who weren’t able to get assistance with gifts of toys from another nonprofit can stop by the Salvation Army, 3130 NE Stephens St., where staff and volunteers will give out extra toys that were donated but not claimed for an Angel, Basso said.