Registration Begins for Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program

Registration for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program began Monday. Last year, more than 1,000 families signed up, and this year’s numbers are expected to double. That is why the Salvation Army has started requiring life skill classes to help families get back on their feet.

Sirvirther Cook is a volunteer for the Salvation Army. She says she’s passionate about the Angel Tree Program because of the positive effect it has on children and their families. Cook says, "You get the opportunity to fill in a void that some parents can or can’t do to provide a Christmas for their kids."

As with every year, the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program will provide gifts for children who may not otherwise receive that special gift, or even a gift at all, but this year in Harrison County, returning Angel Tree families are required to take part in life skills classes before registering their children for this year’s program. Cook also says, "Because to know different is to do different. If you don’t know, and you’re not educated, then you continue to do the same thing you’ve always done."

Families who were not able to attend classes because of certain circumstances will still be considered or directed to another program, like Toys for Tots. Major Beth Sturdivant, Associate Area Commander for the Salvation Army, says, "Perhaps they had a job, or just lost that job, and they weren’t expecting to need assistance, and so medical reasons, there are many reasons why someone didn’t take the classes, so they can come and we can interview them just to see."

Volunteers at the Salvation Army hope the compassion of the Angel Tree Program will stay with them their entire lives. Cook closes, "They don’t have to know that where they are right now is where they’ll always be, and it gives them the opportunity when they get older to give back. You know, at this point in time, somebody did this for me. They had a heart for me, didn’t even know who I was, so they’ll have that compassion for people, heart for people."

Angel Tree registration will continue at the Biloxi Salvation Army through October 10th. Harrison County residents can also sign up in Gulfport from October 13th through the 17th.