Colder temperatures do not deter neighbors needing Christmas assistance. Parents are braving the cold temperatures to ensure their children are not forgotten this Christmas. With two days left of Angel Tree Registration, the numbers of families have not slowed down.
“We already have more families registered at this point than last year’s total and we still have two days left,” says Major Teresa Newsome, Associate Area Commander for The Salvation Army of Greater Chattanooga. “We barely had all the Angels adopted last year and just about every inch of our warehouse was covered with their gifts, we don’t know how we are going to be able to meet the increased need this year.”
To date, 1670 families have registered in Chattanooga and 280 families in Cleveland. To meet this increased need, The Salvation Army is asking the community to adopt Angels from Hamilton Place and Northgate Malls this week. Families at or below the poverty line with children 12 years of age or younger and seniors 60 years of age and older can still register for the Angel Tree program.
Registration will take place today and tomorrow, for the Greater Chattanooga and Cleveland areas. In Chattanooga folks can register at 5001 Covington Street off of Rossville Boulevard, 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. In Cleveland folks can register The Salvation Army located at 437 Inman Street by appointment only by calling 308-3467. For more information including documentation required for registration, families in need should call 756-1023.
Volunteers are invited to assist staff with the Angel Tree program as well as other seasonal efforts. Volunteers may serve as bell ringers in order to raise money for our many ministries which meet the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of local residents. Additionally, volunteers may host Christmas parties for low income seniors or fill stockings with everyday essentials for seniors or fill backpacks for local homeless. For additional information please call 756-1023.