The Salvation Army Angel Tree
1 million+
Angels received Christmas gifts through The Salvation Army Angel Tree program in 2025
Forty Five Years of Making Christmas Brighter
Thanks to generous donors like you, The Salvation Army Angel Tree program helps make Christmas possible for children, seniors, and adults with special needs who might otherwise go without.
To support your neighbors, simply pick a tag off The Salvation Army Angel Tree at participating retailers or online through Walmart’s Spark Good Registry. Then return the gifts and The Salvation Army will distribute them to parents and caregivers so they can wrap and place them under the tree on Christmas morning.
Who are the Angels?
Angel
An individual registered to receive Christmas assistance. Depending on the local program, Angels may include children, teens, and adults with special needs.
Senior Angel
An older adult who may request necessities along with gifts that bring them comfort and Christmas joy.
Forgotten Angel
An Angel whose tag was not picked or their gifts were not returned. Your support ensures your local Salvation Army can fulfill their wishes and needs.
Ways to Get Involved
- Adopt an Angel in person at participating retailers, including Walmart and Sam’s Club, or online through Walmart’s Spark Good Registry.
- Host a Salvation Army Angel Tree at your workplace, church, or organization.
- Volunteer at your local Salvation Army to help prepare and distribute gifts to local families.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s about more than presents. The Salvation Army Angel Tree helps restore dignity and joy at Christmas. When basic necessities stretch a family’s budget, Christmas gifts can feel out of reach. The Salvation Army Angel Tree program brings neighbors together to fulfill needs and wishes while helping parents and caregivers create a joyful Christmas for their families.
Follow an Angel’s journey to Christmas morning:
- Families Apply. Individuals and families experiencing financial hardship apply for Christmas assistance through one of our 7,600 local Salvation Army locations.
- Angels Are Created. Each Angel’s needs, wishes, and sizes are used to create their Salvation Army Angel Tree tag.
- Angels Are Adopted. Community members adopt an Angel at participating retailers, companies, and churches.
- Donors Shop. Donors use their Angel’s information to purchase new clothing, toys, and other suggested items.
- Gifts Are Returned. New and unwrapped gifts are returned by the local deadline with the Angel’s corresponding tag.
- Volunteers Make the Magic Happen. Salvation Army volunteers and staff receive, organize, and prepare thousands of gifts for distribution.
- Gaps Are Filled. Donations help fulfill any remaining needs for Angels who were not adopted.
- Families Receive Their Gifts. Parents and caregivers pick up their family’s Christmas gifts from their local Salvation Army.
- Christmas Morning! Parents and caregivers create a joyful Christmas morning for their families.
Follow these simple guidelines to make the most of your Salvation Army Angel Tree shopping experience:
- Purchase New, Unwrapped Gifts. Salvation Army Angel Tree gifts should be returned new and unwrapped to organize and distribute them to the families. Remember, you don’t have to purchase every item on the wish list.
- Protect Your Angel’s Privacy. If capturing content, do not show names, barcodes, registration numbers, or other identifying information from the Angel’s tag or profile.
- Keep Your Angel’s Information With the Gifts. When returning physical gifts, follow the instructions from your local Salvation Army and make sure the Angel’s identification/tag stays with the appropriate gifts.
PR Contacts
For national media inquiries, please contact The Salvation Army using the form below.
Local media are asked to first contact their local Salvation Army representative for all inquiries, including spokesperson requests.
National Media Inquiries Territorial Contacts Local Contacts