Angel Tree and Toys for Tots combine programs, open registration for Christmas giving

The Local Toys For Tots Campaign is partnering with The Salvation Army of Tallahassee for the largest combined Christmas Assistance program in our area.

The “Angel Tree” and “Toys for Tots” programs have served families in multiple counties for several years, to ensure that no child or senior citizen in need goes without gifts at Christmas.

On Monday, Oct. 3, registration will begin for the combined program at The Salvation Army of Tallahassee, 2410 Allen Road.  

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The Angel Tree program is open to all residents of Gadsden, Leon, and Wakulla counties. Applications are taken for children through age 12 and senior citizens aged 65 and older.  Acceptance to the program is based on qualifying need.

To apply, come to The Salvation Army of Tallahassee weekdays between Oct. 3 and Oct. 14. Applications will be taken between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. For a full listing of registration days, hours, and dates, please visit salvationarmytallahassee.com. These dates are the ONLY REGISTRATION DATES for Angel Tree and Toys for Tots for the combined counties. NO registrations will be taken after Oct.16.

Each applicant must provide the following documentation in order to apply:

1. Valid Picture ID for ALL adults in the home.

2. Birth certificates (or proof of guardianship) for ALL children in the home.

3. Proof of Residency (lease agreement or mortgage statement with applicant’s name and address on it).

5. Proof of ALL income for the home (including cash assistance, food stamps, child support, SSI, etc.).

6. Proof of ALL expenses or bills that are paid (rent, utilities, phone, cable, car, insurance, daycare, etc.).

7. Clothing and shoe sizes for each person registered.

For each eligible person registered, please bring clothing and shoe sizes to registration.

Applications will not be taken without all the required documentation. No children may be brought to the application center.

“The Toys for Tots program will continue to collect toys from all our loyal donors, which will be distributed to children through the Angel Tree and other programs,” explains Marc Dickieson, Coordinator of Toys for Tots.

“We anticipate seeing a higher need for assistance this year due to the ongoing financial stresses starting with the pandemic and continuing on through the current inflation,” states Captain JoAnn Frazier, Corps Officer of The Salvation Army of Tallahassee. “With the help of our donors and volunteers in the community, we can ‘rescue Christmas’ together.”

The Angel Tree program is entirely community based and supported. “Corporate Angel Tree” sites come together to meet the needs of those registered in the program. Any business, office, church, or service group can serve our communities as a Corporate Angel Tree.

You will receive "angels," bags and instructions for your staff, members or customers. The Salvation Army can deliver the angels, or they can be picked up at their office. Any group that would like to be a corporate sponsor can register with The Salvation Army at (850) 222-0304 or email at Adrianne.Kirkland@USS.SalvationArmy.org.

Along with the familiar Red Kettles, the Angel Tree program is one of The Salvation Army's highest profile Christmas efforts.Angel Tree was created by The Salvation Army in 1979 by Majors Charles and Shirley White when they worked with a Lynchburg, Virginia shopping mall to provide clothing and toys for children at Christmastime.

The program got its name because the Majors identified the wishes of local children by writing their gift needs on Hallmark greeting cards that featured pictures of angels.

Today, the Tallahassee Angel Tree is sponsored by the Governor’s Square Mall and is located outside of JCPenney.

Angel Tree gives individuals, partnering corporations and community groups an opportunity to ‘adopt’ less fortunate children and seniors and provide personalized gifts and necessities to those who would otherwise receive very little or nothing during the holiday season.

The program provides clothes, shoes, basic needs, and toys for each applicant. Donors can be confident that their gifts go directly, and without excessive overhead, to those who are truly in need, since all Salvation Army Angels are not served by other holiday assistance programs and each family must provide proof of need.

The Salvation Army is community supported, so we cannot do this without your help. We need many volunteers to assist at the Angel Tree at Governors’ Square Mall, at the “Toy Shop,” and to distribute the toys in all 3 counties to help make the Angel Tree successful for Tallahassee and the surrounding communities.

For more information on how you can help The Salvation Army in Tallahassee call 850- 222-0304. To volunteer in the Angel Tree program and be part of the “army behind the Army,” call Adrianne Kirkland at 850-222-0304 ext. 105 or email at Adrianne.Kirkland@USS.SalvationArmy.org..

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Angel Tree, Toys for Tots combine, open registration at Salvation Army