Salvation Army Austin preps for Angel Tree donation pickup, sees increased need

Austin (KXAN) — Rows of red mesh bags line shelves at the Salvation Army Austin's warehouse, toy cars and boxes of dolls bulging the sides of some bags into rounded red corners. Each one will go home with recipients of the agency's Angel Tree program, giving 8,000 local children a toy to unwrap this holiday.

Starting Friday morning, families who signed up for this year's Angel Tree will pick up their respective bags, each holding at least two toys and two items of clothing per child.

Major Lewis Reckline, who leads Salvation Army Austin, said demand for the help Angel Tree provides grows every year. In 2023, he said the program had about 7,000 children signed up for donations.

Thankfully, Reckline said the effort to help make sure each child has a gift on Christmas Day grows along with that need. He said that support is only possible through volunteers and the Salvation Army's partners.

"For some of these families, we are their Christmas. The kids don't need to know mom and dad are struggling. All they need know is Santa Claus came," Reckline said.