With only a few days to go, the Salvation Army is desperately seeking donations for its angels on its Angel Tree.

The annual program asks those in the Christmas spirit to chose an “angel” and buy gifts of clothing and/or toys for that child in need.

But according to Capt. Bruce Rabon, the Salvation Army’s director and pastor in Washington, at the last minute, an organization that had planned to provide gifts for 150 angels backed out, leaving those wish lists unfilled and the potential for those children to not have such a merry Christmas.

“Well, we have a few toys in our warehouse — in our toy warehouse — that we’ll try to do the best that we can, but there’s the possibility that we won’t be able to help the children,” Rabon said.

Rabon put out a plea on Wednesday for contributions. Participation can come in two forms: people can stop by Walmart, Beaufort County Community College or the Salvation Army’s East Seventh Street location to pick up an angel from the Angel Trees there and do the shopping themselves or make monetary donations, which will allow Salvation Army staff to do the shopping.

“At this point, (we’re asking for) financial donations so that we can shop. If people don’t have time to shop, we can do it for them,” Rabon said.

He said their greatest needs are for girls’ (ages 6-14) and boys’ (ages 12-14) gifts, and donations of winter clothing for both boys and girls, ages 4-14. Rabon said each shopper decides how much money is spent on each Angel Tree wish list.

“It’s kind of really up to the individual,” Rabon said. “We ask that people spend what they’re comfortable spending. We’ve had people spend $25; we’ve had people buy everything on the list.”

With distribution of the gifts starting next Tuesday, the timeline to get gifts to the Salvation Army is short: for those shopping, donations need to be dropped off at the office by Friday, Rabon said.

Rabon said the Angel Tree program serves a true need among the less fortunate.

“It’s like I told them with the (Salvation Army) bell ringing: this is the community helping the community. This is not the Salvation Army helping the community. We’re just a vessel,” Rabon said.

For more information about the Angel Tree program and how to donate, call 252-946-2523. Gifts can be dropped off at the Salvation Army at 112 E. Seventh St. in Washington, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.