The Salvation Army is one of my favorite charities, especially during the holidays because of their focus on helping children have a special Christmas. Christmas has always been a special time in our home, even when we didn’t have a lot of money we never knew it because my mom made even the tiniest details seem so big and magical. I wish every child could have those memories of their Christmases; it saddens me that they can’t, but it warms my heart that charities like the Salvation Army are there to help families give children something to look forward to.
This year the Salvation Army has created, along with the help of national retailer JC Penney, a national online program where people across the country can go online and adopt an angel to give a child or senior holiday gifts. The Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree Online Program is set up this way to increase the amount of people who have access to Angel Trees. I know from experience that Angel Trees can be hard to find when you want to sponsor a child, and local branches are often too busy to help get you set up. This is a brilliant idea in my opinion!
Through the Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree Online Program, you still are able to choose a child from your community to donate to. The process is very simple. You visit the main Angel Giving Tree website and enter your zip code and the information about a child you wish to sponsor. You are able to choose the gender and age of child you wish to buy for, because that makes it easier for some people to choose gifts. Once you’re registered, you’ll be sent an e-mail with all of the information necessary for you to shop for your Angel. You will also be given the information necessary for delivering or shipping your Angel’s gifts.
If you want more information about sponsoring a child, please visit the Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree online program. I’m hoping that those of us who can will ban together and use some of our “freebie” money and gift cards to make a child’s Christmas very special this year.
The Salvation Army also pioneers the Red Kettle campaign each year, and I have been a bell ringer in years past. I can honestly say it’s a fulfilling, fun way to spend a few hours if you have the time. You tell them when you want to volunteer and they will set you up at your nearest station. I did it for 4 hours; I’m not sure what the least or most time you can spend is. I know that near Christmas it seems that there’s a bell ringer at every store, at every door even, but it is so rewarding knowing that you can help even just a little bit when you don’t have the money to give of yourself. If you can do this, give your local chapter of the Salvation Army a call ASAP to get started.
Be sure to contact your local Salvation Army for more ways you can help.
