Pandemic Causes Salvation Army To Alter Angel Tree Program

As the holidays near, the Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command have begun preparations for their well-known Angel Tree. 

The Salvation Army is working on a way to give to those in need this holiday, but it will be slightly different due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

"It has challenged us to look at how we provide services," said Susan Ellis with The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command. "We have about 3,000 angels between children and seniors we hope to serve this year." 

The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command serves three counties: Oklahoma, Canadian and Cleveland. This year, they are seeking out new businesses, churches and groups willing to support at least 35 angels. 

The Salvation Army said many businesses and churches are not yet back in their buildings. They are working to create a new way for organizations to give back.  

"The way it would work for some of our partners, they would physically set up the angel tree with the tags, and then the employees could come, shop for the angel and return it," Ellis said. "We are in the process of building a virtual platform for those businesses." 

Ellis said she is seeing a difference in this year's applicants than years past. 

"As I am going through the applications and approving them, we have a mix of households,” Ellis said. “I have seen households where their only income now is unemployment (benefits).”

Recipients of donations are infants to twelve and senior citizens who are 62 years of age or older. 

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