Angel Tree program brings holiday joy to kids, seniors
Businesses, churches, citizens help Salvation Army distribute gifts.
The Springfield Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program has started to help over 2,000 Clark County children in need this Christmas.
“(This) program is designed to ensure that every child in Clark County wakes up to presents under the Christmas tree,” said Ryan Ray, development director of the Springfield Salvation Army.
Angel tags can be found on trees at Berea Baptist Church, Bethel Baptist Church, Charlo’s Provisions & Eatery, Drive 1 Car
& Truck (both locations), Le Torte Dolci Bakery, Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken (all four locations), The Macray Company, Eatly, Mela Urban Bistro, Northridge Lanes, O’conner’s Irish Pub, Ohio Valley Surgical Hospital, St. Bernard Catholic Church, St. Teresa Catholic Church, Texas Roadhouse, Walmart (both local stores) and Warrior Nutrition.
As part of the program, parents go into the Salvation Army to register for Christmas assistance by making a list of gifts for their children and then Angel Tree tags are generated and placed on trees around the county.
“The goal is for each child to get three nice toys, toys they are really wanting,” Ray said. “Christmas is that one time (when) going a little over-the-top is okay. The children are worth it.”
If any tags go unclaimed, they are filled using toys received from the Highway Hikers Toy Run to ensure “no child is missed and that every child receives an exceptional Christmas.”
Ray said when someone purchases for an Angel Tree tag they should turn in those items between Dec. 1 and 3 at the Youth Building at the Clark County Fairgrounds.
Last year, the Springfield Salvation Army served over 2,000 children, Ray said. This year that number could be closer to 3,000.
The Springfield Salvation Army, with the help of the Clark County Senior Citizens Task Force, is also doing a Senior Angel Tree program.
“We believe that our senior citizen population deserves a great Christmas, too,” Ray said. “We hope to unlock a little nostalgia in the process, which we know can take our senior citizens to a very happy place.”
Last year, the task force initiated this program, which focuses on purchasing things that seniors living in nursing homes both want and need.
This year, two nursing homes are participating: Springfield Nursing and Independent Living (Springfield Manor) and Northwood Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation. Together, the facilities have about 160 total residents.
Both organizations complied wish lists for the seniors at both nursing homes. People in the community can look through the Angels and select the one they want, Ray said. Gifts can be purchased and then returned to the Salvation Army wrapped according to instructions emailed to them, which also includes how to tag them and when and where to bring them. If any residents are missed or unclaimed, the task force will purchase items for them.
“We will then deliver all the gifts to the nursing homes and stay for the little Christmas parties, watching the residents open their gifts,” Ray said. “It really is a magical time to see the smiles, hear the laughter and experience the love and joy in the air.”
The Senior Angel Tree will be done entirely online starting at 7 p.m. tonight. The link for the program will be shared on the Salvation Army’s Facebook page.