In 2023, 36.8 million Americans were experiencing poverty, meaning they were unable to financially support even their most basic needs. As the holiday season approaches, the minds of parents are consumed by the stress of affording gifts and crafting the magical experience that is Christmas for their children.
The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree is a tradition that began in 1979 as a collaboration between the Salvation Army and Walmart, one that continues today. You may have seen one of these very trees posted up at the front of New Boston’s own Walmart.
Unlike your typical Christmas tree, this one is prepared with a rather unique variety of ornaments in the shape of paper angels. These angels come bearing the names of local children who depend on donations to make their Christmas not only wonderful, but possible in the first place.
In addition to their names, the angel-shaped tags also provide the child’s age and gender, as well as some requests for what they’d like to see under the tree Christmas morning.
You can stop by Walmart anytime to see this year’s angels and make a personal selection before shopping. These days, the digital age has made donating even easier.
A South Shore local said the process to donate was “pretty effortless” before, and even moreso now that he can purchase the gifts directly off the website’s registry. Concerned that we were discussing charitable donations, he requested to stay anonymous.
He and his son began their own tradition of visiting the Angel Tree every year, picking out a name and then shopping in-store for the gifts to be dropped off to the Salvation Army. Now, digital shopping makes the entire process painless from start to finish.
To begin, you can search for your local Angel Tree on Salvation Army’s website without even having to leave the comfort of your own home. The website will then provide a local registry of pre-selected gifts from Walmart. From there, all you have to do is select the items you’d like to buy and then they will be shipped directly to the Salvation Army. No wrapping, packing, shipping or stress involved.
“I think having the registry online will make it easier for people to donate … and so hopefully people will realize all it takes is a little bit of time and effort, maybe a little bit of sacrifice to help the community,” the donor said of the online option.
The registry for Portsmouth and Scioto County’s Angel Tree is up and ready for spirited donations from charitable citizens.
