TEXARKANA-Making sure every child has a joyful Christmas morning is the Salvation Army's mission this time of year.
The Angel Tree Program, along with the Red Kettle Campaign, is one of the Salvation Army's highest-profile Christmas efforts. The Angel Tree program provides toys and clothing to children, senior adults and families experiencing financial hardship
Angels are available for adoption for the next few weeks. Gift distribution will be December 18.
"Angels are available for adoption by community members and businesses, who in a small way will deliver the magic and message of Christmas to those in need said Major Tracey Czajkowski, Corps Officer for the Salvation Army of Texarkana.
About 400 local families have been registered for the program this year. That includes about 800 children and seniors enrolled in the program.
The main Angel Tree is at Central Mall in front of Great American Cookie. There are also Angel Trees at area businesses including Walmart stores in Texarkana, New Boston and Ashdown and a number of area churches. The trees are decorated with paper angels that represent a child or senior adult who might not receive a gift at Christmas without this program.
The tags contain the child or senior adults' first name, age, gender and gift wishes and needs.
"All of the angels will be appreciative of anything you give. The list of wishes and needs are just there to give you ideas since you are shopping for someone you don't know," Czajkowski said.
After purchasing gifts, the gift giver can simply attach the angel tag to the outside of the bag and return it to the location where they received their angel. Gifts should be returned unwrapped but donations of wrapping paper is appreciated.
Every year, about 30% of the angels that go out are either not turned back in or are turned in after distribution takes place, Czajkowski said.
Sometimes more items are needed to supplement each gift.
"To ensure that each special angel receives Christmas assistance, we have developed "Forgotten Angels" that we use to fill the wishes of children who either did not get adopted or did not come in prior to distribution," she said.
There are tags on the trees that have no names and just specify a gender or age. These gifts are used for the "Forgotten Angels." They are placed in the Salvation Army's toy shop for the volunteer to "shop" for these children.
"This way, no child that has been registered with the Salvation Army will go without gifts," Czajkowski said.
"We are grateful for the generous support from our community and local businesses that work alongside the Salvation Army to provide a joyous Christmas to those in need."
For more information about adopting an Angel, please call the Salvation Army at 870-774-2701 or visit the Salvation Army Office at 400 East 4th St. in Texarkana, Arkansas.