Annual “Tree of Love” showers kids with toys

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson’s 19^th annual Tree of Love provided Christmas presents to more than 600 children from low-income families this year. The public “adopted” the children by picking a name from the Christmas tree at the Gallery at South DeKalb mall and went shopping for the kids. Johnson and volunteers collected the gifts and passed them out during a holiday program on Dec. 16 that included performances by the Lou Walker Senior Center and the Chapel Hill Middle School Steppers. Miss DeKalb County Sweetheart Addyson Riley also made an appearance at the program, which was held at the Gallery at South DeKalb mall, where it is presented annually.

Since its inception in 1999, the Tree of Love has provided gifts to more than 10,000 children