By CASSANDRA MICKENS / Associate Editor 

NORTH SHELBY – Inverness Chick-fil-A’s Santa Cow and Little Elf Cow busted a move for drive-through lunch-goers Nov. 15 – the first day of the Salvation Army’s annual Angel Tree and Red Kettle programs in Shelby County.

Rain did not deter the cows or Salvation Army volunteers from ringing in the holiday season as passersby looked on and smiled. Salvation Army volunteer Sanchez Tanniehill and Scott Lewandowski sang a lively rendition of “Jingle Bells” while Santa Cow and Little Elf Cow spun and danced under cloudy skies.

“Bless your heart! Do you have an umbrella?” a woman asked as she entered the restaurant for lunch.

“As you can see, we’ll stand here in rain or shine,” said Shelby County Salvation Army Lt. Brian Leonard. “Our kettle goal this year is $100,000, as we want to continue to serve the people of Shelby and Chilton counties.”

The Red Kettle program is the Salvation Army’s most recognizable public effort, Leonard said. Donations supporting year-round programs provided by the Salvation Army’s community centers.

The Angel Tree program allows the public to provide new clothing and toys to children in need. Angel Trees, each decorated with numbered paper angel tags with the first name, age and gender of a child who will receive a gift, will be on display from Nov. 15 to Dec. 7 at Chick-fil-A restaurants in Inverness, 4620 U.S. 280 S.; Alabaster, 125 Colonial Promenade Pkwy.; and Pelham, 320 Cahaba Valley Road. Participants take an angel tag, shop for the items listed and return the new, unwrapped gifts to the same location.

The public also can adopt an angel at the Salvation Army’s Alabaster Corps Community Center, 108 Plaza Circle, Suite E, or online at www.birminghamsalvationarmy.org.

For more information about the Angel Tree and Red Kettle programs and volunteer opportunities, call (205) 663-7105.