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Angel Tree Program

Help The Salvation Army give with the gift of hope this holiday season.
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Angel-Tree-logo_400px.pngThe Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania wants to ensure everyone feels the special joy surrounding the Christmas season. To help make that possible, The Salvation Army provides children and individuals with Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, winter coats, clothing, toys, and gifts each year. One of the primary programs we use to provide toys, gifts, hope, and Christmas joy to families in need is The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. First introduced in 1979 in Lynchburg, Virginia, the program began when Captains Charles and Shirley White developed a simple yet meaningful way for shoppers to support children in need by selecting angel tags from a Christmas tree. What started as an effort to provide clothing for 472 children has grown into a nationwide program providing clothing, toys and gifts to more than a million children and their families each Christmas.

Through The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program, donors become personally involved in helping a child or individual in need, as each tag represents a specific recipient. The Salvation Army identifies those in need of assistance through its Worship and Service Centers, Services Centers, Service Units and referrals from other community organizations. During designated dates that vary by location, a Salvation Army officer, case worker, or trusted and trained volunteer completes a Seasonal Assistance Application while interviewing each applicant to assess their individual or household needs. The individual seeking assistance must complete a Seasonal Assistance application. Those served by the program include children ranging in age from birth up to and including 13 years of age with some locations also doing tags for teens and seniors. At this time, it is also determined if the family qualifies for any other available programs. The Salvation Army maintains confidentiality of all participants.
Tags with child information, are then distributed to local donors ranging from individuals to large corporations and all those in between. Donors are provided with a deadline for their unwrapped donations to be returned to The Salvation Army. After receipt of all gifts, they are sorted and distributed to the individuals we serve.

This program brings holiday joy to so many during the Christmas Season all because of the hard work and generosity of our donors, willingness of our volunteers and dedication of employees to consistently and tirelessly serve those in need.



Does Your Family Need Assistance?

To find out if your family qualifies for assistance, click here for locations based on zipcode or call 412-446-1500 to be referred to The Salvation Army in your local community. The Salvation Army maintains confidentiality of all clients.