Angel Tree Salvation Army Program Providing Gifts, Toys For Kids In Need This Holiday: Family Registration Open Until October 31st
Editor’s note: We covered this program in previous years, but this is the first time we are announcing it while there is still time for families with children who need toys or gifts for the holiday season to register their children for the program. As described below, each child’s wishes are given an angel ornament for local businesses and community members to adopt and purchase the items on the list for delivery by December 1oth. We are waiting to hear back if volunteers are needed for gift wrapping or distributing once the donated gifts are received.
For those wanting to register their child to participate in the program, for Staten Island in particular, the following days and times are when the two Salvation Army locations on the island are open for either their food pantry or their soup kitchen (with or without sit down meals). At these times, a parent can reigister their child(ren) for the Angel Tree program. The deadline is next Friday (Halloween):
Port Richmond Corps:
- Soup Kitchen: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11:30 AM – 1 PM.
- Food Pantry: Monday – Thursday from 10 AM – 2PM (By appointment only on Fridays).
Stapleton Corps:
- Soup Kitchen (w/ Sit Down Dining): Monday – Friday from 11:30 AM – 2 PM.
- Food Pantry: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12:30 PM – 1 PM.
-
- Lt. Esther made me aware that the Stapleton food pantry currently serves 600 people a month, serving the following: fresh produce, pastas, bread and frozen meat.
The following zip codes on Staten Island are served by the Stapleton Corps: 10304, 10305, 10306, 10307, 10308, 10309, 10312. If you live on Staten Island, and are not in one of those zip, then you would go to the Port Richmond Corps to register.
The following questions were answered by Salvation Army regarding the Angel Tree program. Question in bold, answers in red:
- Are these toys and gifts provided by local residents or businesses? – Correct, individuals might see an Angel Tree in a local mall, Walmart or other business and they can always visit AngelTreeNY.org/angels to adopt an angel. Businesses can sign up to sponsor an Angel Tree at AngelTreeNY.org.
- If so, how can people who want to donate get involved? Will there be any bank or store drop off boxes, or can they bring them to their local SA? I’m assuming they must be new and unwrapped toys? – In-person donations can be dropped off at The Salvation Army of Greater New York’s divisional office located at 120 W 14th St New York, New York 10011. For donors who rather shop online, they can shop our Toy Shop via Amazon (AngelTreeNY.org/toyshop), the gifts will automatically ship the gifts to our toy sorting center (Star Lake Camp). Gifts can also be shipped to The Salvation Army of Greater New York’s divisional office. Local (select) Walmarts will have Angel Tree donation boxes from Dec. 1-15. For donors picking an Angel Tree tag/child from a specific Salvation Army Corps Community Center location near them, they can drop off gifts at location as well. All gifts should be unwrapped so that we can ensure safety and appropriateness.
- Do they also need volunteers to do the gift-wrapping, if applicable? – We typically do not have volunteers help wrap but they can contact us to help out with local distributions beginning the week of Dec. 15th, but I do not have the schedule just yet. We have volunteer sign-ups for Star Lake on Eventbrite here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/help-sort-toys-for-children-in-need-tickets-758011401507
The Salvation Army has shared that for families who will need a little extra help this holiday season, registration is now open to receive Christmas gifts from The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program in the Lower Hudson Valley, NYC, and Long Island.
Now through October 31, low-income families are encouraged to contact their nearest Salvation Army Corps Community Center to register their children to receive Christmas gifts. The Angel Tree program ensures that thousands of children across the Greater New York area wake up to presents under their tree, something their parents might not otherwise be able to provide.
Each year, the program connects generous donors with “angels” (children in need), ensuring that every child has a joyful holiday season. It’s one of the most beloved and impactful holiday assistance efforts in New York.
From the Salvation Army describing the program last year:
The toy drives that The Salvation Army runs each year are done through the Angel Tree program, an annual initiative for the organization since 1979 with the aim of uplifting families in need and bringing joy to children each Christmas. Specific to Staten Island, The Salvation Army Stapleton Community Center and The Salvation Army Port Richmond Community Center will be hosting Angel Trees for their respective communities.
-
Each child in need is represented by a tag on an Angel Tree. Each tag includes the child’s name, age, gender and their holiday wish list. Items may include new clothes, toys, shoes, sports equipment, and essential hygiene/personal care products. You can adopt an “Angel” in person at your nearest Salvation Army Community Center or online.
-
Once you choose a tag, generous Staten Islanders looking to help their neighbors are encouraged to select a tag valued between $25 – $50, purchase the gift, and return it unwrapped to either community center in Stapleton or Port Richmond by December 10th. This will help ensure the gift is delivered to the children in time for Christmas.
Banner Image: Salvation Army worker delivering toys and gifts to local children. Image Credit – The Salvation Army
Salvation Army GNY
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 30 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,000 centers of operation around the country. In 2021, The Salvation Army was ranked No. 2 on the list of "America's Favorite Charities" by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.