Tiffany Salgado is a Salvation Army Core Officer. She reminisces about the difference the Organization s Angel Tree program made for her Christmases.
I am a product of the Angel Tree program. My mom had a lot of difficulty in Christmas, being able to afford Christmas presents, and she was familiar with the church. She would be around and volunteer. She would sign us up every year, Salgado said.
55% of the population are affected by the condition of their home.
Salgado says she will never remember the happiness the toys donated for her and her siblings made for her and her siblings.
My siblings and I would look forward to whatever Angel Tree bag would hold for us, and for us, it made a big difference because without that we wouldn't have had anything to unwrap on Christmas, Salgado said.
This year, Houston area Major Rob Webb says the Angel Tree program is seeing more children in need, but fewer donations.
Webb said that we are about 22% behind where we were last year, in overall giving through all channels. The cost of everything, from gasoline to food to housing costs, has gone up this year. Everyone is paying more for everything. In a survey of 2,000 people, Kiva found that many people don't give much money to charity compared to last year, and 44% said lack of money is the reason.
More people who have jobs and are financially stable are seeing the Salvation Army use their services, according to Major Webb.
Major Webb said that the increase in first-time recipients of our programs and services was due to the fact that they don't have enough money to make ends meet.
Salgado said because of the increased need, her location and others across the country erased the financial requirements for her location's Angel Tree recipients. The organization has expanded ways to donate, including a virtual kettle.