GALESBURG, Ill. — Christmas is around the corner as the month of December kicks off.
This year, fewer children throughout the area will wake up without gifts under the tree.
Thanks to two young girls in Knox County, some of their wishes are being granted.
Big sister Baylie and little sister Harper Mayfield started the 'Junk for Jingles' project in 2020. They collect scrap metal and turn it in for cash.
"There's some weekends we've got 20 stops to go pick up stuff," their mother, Briget, said.
The money goes to buy gifts off of the Salvation Army Galesburg Angel Tree.
"I do it because I think everyone should get Christmas presents," Baylie said. "I don't think it's too much."
The sisters spend all year long preparing to hit the stores. They've increased their goal every year for how many children to shop for off the Angle Tree.
"Each year it gets bigger and bigger," Briget said. "I'm every bit of proud that I can be. They both work really hard. But it's a really good dynamic to getting us to spend family time together too."
The number was 38 the first year, then 100 in 2021, and 130 kids helped this year.
"I get awe-struck by how much she's able to accomplish," Briget said.
Briget said the total has even exceeded by a couple of kids in 2021 and 2022.
"Right now, I don't have a plan of stopping," Baylie said.
"We've had a lot of nice people help us out," Harper said.
"The budgeting part has been really huge," Briget said. "Teaching her how to manage the money and where to spend it where we can to save if we can."
The girls recently bought around two-dozen bikes with helmets for children. Baylie and Harper's father, Eric Mayfield, assembled and secured each one to have the bikes set for delivery at the Salvation Army in Galesburg.
To learn more about Junk for Jingles or make a donation, check out the Facebook page by clicking/tapping here.
We featured Junk for Jingles as a Pay It Forward recipient in 2021, that story can be found here.
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