Those seeking assistance this holiday season from the Salvation Army need to sign up by Friday to be eligible for the Angel Tree program or the Empty Stocking Fund.
Clients are asked to sign up digitally and must have an email address.
To pre-register, visit https://tinyurl.com/y3ah30hu.
Enter the Angel Code: Odessa.
Needed documents:
- >> Valid ID
- >> Utility bill
- >> Proof of income
- >> Birth certificate for each child 12 and younger (only a parent or guardian may sign up a child and proof of guardianship is required.)
The Angel Tree, along with the familiar Red Kettles, is a Salvation Army program designed to help children and seniors get gifts during the holidays.
Created in 1979 in Virginia, the program allows children to place “wish” angels on Christmas trees with clothing sizes and a toy “wish” list.
The Empty Stocking Fund was started by the Odessa American and the fund will celebrate 27 years this holiday season. The Fund has raised more than $2.1 million to help Odessa families with a holiday meal gift basket and with small gifts for children and seniors. This year’s goal is $100,000 and the event kicks off on Thanksgiving Day.
Readers are asked to donate to help needy families have a better holiday season.
This year marks the first in West Texas for Luis and Laura Melendez, who have previously served with the Salvation Army as Corps Officers and pastors in Georgia, Houston, Lufkin, Dallas and McAllen in the past.
The officers have a busy holiday season coming up quickly and encourage clients to sign up by the deadline on Friday.
They also hope Odessans will celebrate Hope Marches On, which is the theme of this year’s holiday season.
Volunteers are always needed for all of the holiday events including the Red Kettle Campaign, which traditionally kicks off around Black Friday. This year teams can create a Red Kettle Challenge online and compete to see who can raise the most money through the kettle donations.
Visit: www.salvationarmytexas.org/Odessa and select Accept the Challenge.
One pair of top local lawmen have already accepted the challenge.
Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis and OPD Chief Mike Gerke will again compete from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 4. Griffis won the challenge last year and both are looking forward to this year’s competition for a good cause. The likely site will be the eastside Wal-Mart with one challenger manning each door with a bell and a Red Kettle.
The Salvation Army typically helps about 300 families in Odessa and about 1,300 children through the Angel Tree, Empty Stocking Fund and the Red Kettle.
Questions? Call 432-332-0738.
