Stores are packed for all those Black Friday sales, but not everyone is focused on themselves. Meals and gifts are being spread around the Wichita Falls community.

The Griffin family had a greeting of their own for Texoma. "The holiday season is a time for giving and sharing and caring. Its more blessing to give than to receive. Give as you can from your heart."

Rusty Sheppard, a Wichita Falls Fire Equipment Operator for the WFFD said, "With things as tough as they are right now, I think it's everybody's part to reach out the best they can in whatever fashion they can."

There is always an increase in donations to different organizations during the holiday season. Volunteers make most of these donations possible. Ringers who volunteer for the Salvation Army of Wichita Falls help those who are less fortunate and even travel from other communities just because of their holday spirit.

David Applegate, Salvation Army Volunteer said, "You got to pay it forward, you got to remember one day you might be down on your luck and if there's no giving back, there's no one to help you."

Bill Tyler, another Salvation Army Volunteer said, "It makes you feel good to volunteer and do what's right for the community and for the city. We are in a very blessed town, where people are giving."

But without the help of the community, several families may not get to experience the holiday season to its full potential.
 
Rusty Sheppard said, "I think its all of our responsibility to take care of those who are less fortunate. We're heroes in the community, we do our job, we just want to show that away from work we're here to serve the community as well."

Many Black Friday shoppers helped Operation Santa Claus. Wichita Falls firefighters collected money on Kemp Boulevard to help buy presents for children. All donations to the Salvation Army and Operation Santa Clause always stay in the community and always makes a difference.

There will be dance and dinner the night of Nov. 28 at the Elks Lodge on Seymour Highway put on by the Wichita Falls Fire Department. There are less than twenty tickets left and dinner is $25 a couple.