The Salvation Army Angel Tree program needs a Christmas miracle.
The program, which provides toys and clothing for needy children and senior citizens with the help of caring community members, still has approximately 300 angels that haven't been taken off the tree. Of the 600 angel tags that have been taken off trees around town, only a fraction have been brought back.
"We're short of people taking angels by about 300 and of the 600 that are out, we only have 160 back," said Maj. David Feeser, Salvation Army commander. "We need those back as soon as possible."
Gifts can be dropped off at The Salvation Army, 400 E. Fourth St., Texarkana, Ark., or at the Angel Tree in Central Mall until Friday.
Toys and gifts will be distributed to families Dec. 18.
"Many of the families, almost all of them, don't have a way of providing Christmas. For many of them, we're their sole source of Christmas," Feeser said.
The community can help by adopting an angel off the tree or bringing in the gifts for angels who've already been taken.
For people who may not have time to shop for the wish list they'll find on the angel tags, a financial donation can be made and The Salvation Army will do the shopping. A donation of clothing or toys for children from the ages of birth to 12 years of age is also useful.
"Texarkana has always come through in the past. If you've already taken an angel, we appreciate that. We're looking at having a good Christmas for a thousand kids in town," Feeser said.
For more information, call 870-774-2701.