Salvation Army Austin sees increased demand for Angel Tree donations

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Rows of red mesh bags lined shelves at the Salvation Army Austin's warehouse, with toy cars and boxes of dolls bulging the sides of some bags into rounded red corners.

The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program collected donations for 8,000 local children -- gifts to unwrap on Christmas Day. Families receiving the donations picked up their bags, each holding at least two toys and two items of clothing per child, on Friday.

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

Thankfully, Reckline said the effort to help is also growing alongside 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.