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Children in Troup County will be receiving gifts from Santa and the Salvation Army this year through their Angel Tree program.

Downtown LaGrange and numerous local businesses raised raising money during a recent Holiday Sip & Shop event. On Thursday, those businesses donated presented the Salvation Army with a check for $750.

Lisa Martin, Director of Troup County for Salvation Army, said she was blessed to receive the check from the downtown merchants.

“We are just really blown away by the generosity of all the business owners downtown,” Martin said. “It’s just such a blessing to receive this surprise check.”

Amber Haire, a social worker with the Salvation Army, said she started her position earlier this year and is already seeing her impact.

“It has been exhausting, yet it is very rewarding,” Haire said. “We had one lady that told us yesterday that we’re bringing hope to her family after a really bad year.”

Morgan Johnson, manager of Affair to Remember, said the Holiday Sip & Shop was a huge success for the store.

“Affair to Remember was so excited to show off our bridal suite and evening wear. We have tons of new cocktail dresses that are super fun,” Johnson said. “It was a really great way to showcase that we are more than just bridal gowns.”

Hannaniah Pinto, owner of Fountain gifts said he believed in the work that the Salvation Army is doing.

“This is nice, because I believe in what they do,” Pinto said.

“It’s great that we as shopkeepers can contribute.”