Programs & Services

Angel Tree Program
 

The Salvation Army/WDEF News12 Angel Tree

Most of us look forward to receiving gifts over the holidays. Children, especially, dream about the wonderful things they hope to find under the tree on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, many children in the Tennessee Valley won't even have a Christmas tree, much less any presents to open.

That's where The Salvation Army comes in. Through a program called "Angel Tree," gifts are provided to needy children and elderly citizens who would otherwise be left out on Christmas.

In 2009, The Salvation Army/WDEF News 12 Angel Tree Program served 2,763 angels in the Chattanooga and Cleveland areas.

The Salvation Army/WDEF News 12 Angel Tree program provides an opportunity for the personal touch as shoppers can select an Angel Tag at an area mall or their place of work. Each Angel Tag provides the name, age, gender, clothing sizes and special Christmas needs and wishes of a needy child, senior or disabled adult.

Caring individuals select one or more of the angels from the tree, purchase gifts from the list and return the unwrapped gifts to the Angel Tree. Donors may purchase the need, the wish, or both, or may choose to buy something from each clothing size listed.

How Does The Angel Tree Work?

Often when people see a Salvation Army Angel Tree at a local shopping mall, they wonder how The Salvation Army gets the names of the children and senior citizens to put on the Angel tags. They also want to know where the gifts go after they drop them off at the Angel Tree, and how The Salvation Army distributes the gifts to the needy children.

1. Social Service agencies and schools refer needy families to The Salvation Army for help with toys, clothing and food for Christmas.
2. An adult family member interviews with a Salvation Army representative who verifies that the family is truly in need. The representative obtains the names of each child or senior citizen in the family and a list of desired Christmas gifts. A community-wide Clearing House is checked to ensure that the family is not receiving duplicate services from another agency. A unique code number is assigned to each family as well as a specific letter code that designates each individual family member.
3. Information obtained during the interview is printed on an Angel tag for each individual. The tags are placed on Salvation Army Angel Trees at area shopping malls and in local corporations and organizations.
4. Generous donors select Angels, purchase gifts and return them to the Angel Tree.
5. Upon their return, the gifts are taken to a Salvation Army Christmas Distribution Center. Volunteers, using the unique family and individual codes, sort the items and place them in a special "family bag." Family bags are then shelved according to code numbers making them easy to locate when the family arrives to pick up their gifts.
6. During the week before Christmas Eve, families pick up their gifts based on set appointments given during the initial interview process.
    

Corporate Angel Tree

To sign up for Corporate Angel Tree, click to send an e-mail to Will Hale, Director of Volunteer Services & Special Events, or call Will at 423-756-1023 ext 1102.

Companies, churches and community organizations may choose to have an on-site Angel Tree to provide their employees and members a convenient way to help the less fortunate during the Christmas season. The Angel Tree may be placed in the lobby, lunchroom or other high traffic area.

The Salvation Army Provides:

• Angel Tags listing the first names of actual children from our community and a list of gifts requested by the parent(s) including clothing sizes.
• All necessary supplies (instructions, gift bags, posters and labels)

The Company or Organization Provides:

• A Christmas Tree upon which to place the Angel Tags
• An Angel Tree Coordinator
• Transportation of gifts to the Christmas Distribution Center (if under 75 Angels)
   

Angel Tree Volunteers

To help with Angel Tree, click to send an e-mail to Will Hale, Director of Volunteer Services & Special Events, or call Will at 423-756-1023 ext 1102.

Are you looking for an exciting volunteer service opportunity over the Holidays? Individuals and groups are being sought to help with the following Angel Tree projects during the Holiday season:

Register Families Applying for Christmas Assistance

Volunteers are needed to work four-hour shifts. This is an opportunity to personally interact with those seeking assistance from The Salvation Army during the Holidays. Registration takes place at the Salvation Army Social Services Office at 2140 East 28th Street in East Lake. Both English speaking and bilingual interviewers are needed.

Staff an Angel Tree Site at a Local Shopping Mall

Individuals and groups are needed to help at Angel Trees (four-hour shifts) at these Chattanooga and Cleveland area shopping malls:

• Hamilton Place Mall
• Northgate Mall
• Bradley Square Mall

As an Angel Tree volunteer, you will help shoppers select Angel Tags from the Angel Tree, record the code numbers from tags in a log book, receive gifts from donors when they are returned and place labels on donated gifts. You will also have an opportunity to answer questions and explain to shoppers how the Angel Tree program works.

Sort and Distribute Gifts at the Christmas Distribution Center

Individuals and groups are needed to sort, shelve and distribute gifts to needy families.