By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The Pelham Police Department will be hosting a pair of events in the coming weeks to help those all over Alabama who may struggle to celebrate Christmas this year.

On Oct. 29, the department will team up with the Salvation Army to hold a toy drive at the Pelham Walmart for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. During the event, volunteers will collect toys, donations and Christmas decorations, such as trees, lights and ornaments, for families affected by the April 27 tornadoes.

The toy and Christmas decoration drive will run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Pelham Walmart off U.S. 31. Salvation Army volunteers will be on site to collect donations and transport them to a warehouse to store until the Christmas season.

“There are so many people who lost everything in those tornadoes. We want to help them bring in their first Christmas after the storms happily,” Smith said.

The police department will also host a charity booth at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Christmas Village from Nov. 2-6.

At the booth, the department will be selling autographed sports memorabilia from teams such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and the New Orleans Saints. All purchases from the booth will benefit the Christmas fund for tornado survivors.

“We aren’t talking about just a few autographed items. We have a ton,” Smith said with a laugh.

Prince Wimbley, a wide receiver on Alabama’s 1992 national championship team, will be on hand each day to sign autographs.

Police department volunteers will also be accepting toy, decoration and monetary donations to benefit the tornado survivors at the Christmas Village.

For more information about the events, call Smith at 620-6545 or email jennsmith@pelhamonline.com.