by Jeremy Couso
Lassen County Toys for Tots, one of the area’s longest lasting and most venerated holiday programs, and one that has touched the lives of literally tens of thousands of area children over the past half-century, has announced that it will cease operations effective immediately. That leaves the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree and Holiday with a Hero to shoulder an extra burden during the upcoming holiday season.
All three organizations are working hard to make sure that no local children go without this year.
“We have extended the deadline to apply for the Angel Tree program until November 24th, to make sure everyone has a chance to be included,” explains Salvation Army Coordinator Carla McDonald, who added that it’s best to register as early as possible.
Posting on Facebook about the decision to shutter the Toys for Tots’ program, organizer Robert Trussell said, “This decision was difficult to make, having helped children in our community for many years. We would like to thank everyone who helped support us throughout the years to give hundreds of children a magical Christmas.”
Trussell said that he worked closely with the Angel Tree and HwaH programs and the Salvation Army has agreed to accept additional families, with HwaH backing them up if the need becomes to great.
“To our many loyal supporters who helped make our program possible every year through your generous donations and contributions, we are asking that all further donations be made to the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program to help them in being able to assist with this transition and assisting the hundreds of local children that will be moving from our program to theirs.”
If you have any questions about making contributions to the Angel Tree contact McDonald at 1560 Main Street or call 1.530.257.0314.
The Angel Tree Program
Applicants will need to have the following documentation available and ready to upload in the application:
- Applicant’s Photo ID and Photo ID for all other adults in the household – this can be multiple IDs on one page so there is only one file to upload.
- ID for each child – ID can be medical card, birth certificate, school ID card, or Passport to services – it needs to show the child’s birthdate. This can also be multiple IDs on one page (or in one picture) so one file is needed for all IDs.
This application is also for a Christmas Food box where the family may choose from two different food boxes offered (shown on the application). They will select which meat they would like with the box – turkey, ham or turkey breast, and then select a date and time to pick up the box.
The Angel Tree gifts will not necessarily be given out the same day as the Food Distribution. The family will be called, once all their gifts have been received and bagged up, to come to the Salvation Army office to pick them up.
Arrangements may be made for delivery of gifts and food boxes to outlying areas, if needed. All gifts and food boxes must be signed for by the applicant or their designated pickup person as indicated on the application form.
It is extremely important that a valid and correct email address is given on the application as it goes to that email address for verification and that counts as a signature. Once the email is verified, the application will be submitted for approval to verify the necessary documentation has been included and will then be approved or denied.
If the application is denied, the applicant receives an email explaining why and what missing information needs to be included.
