The Salvation Army has two different Christmas charities, an angel tree program and a money collection program with bell ringers and red kettles scattered across the country, collecting money and “doing the most good” for needy individuals throughout the country.

William Booth, a minister in London, founded the Salvation Army in 1865 as a way to help the poor, homeless and less fortunate. From its humble beginnings in England, the Salvation Army has spread throughout Europe and the U.S.

The Salvation Army started the Angel Tree program in 1979 by Maj. Charles and Shirley White. The Whites began the program in Lynchburg, Va. The first program served 700 needy children.

According to the Salvation Army, the program was called Angel Tree because the Whites collected the wishes of needy children on Hallmark cards that depicted angels. The cards were then placed on a Christmas tree on display at the local mall where holiday shoppers picked children’s wishes off the tree and purchased gifts for them.

The Angel Tree program spread to Nashville, Tenn. a few years later, and shortly after became a national charity event sponsored by the Salvation Army.

The Angel Tree program provides gifts of new clothing and new toys to thousands of children each year who may not have received any Christmas gifts without the Salvation Army. Children who receive Angel Tree gifts have applied for assistance and provided the Salvation Army with clothing sizes and wish lists for each child.

The angel’s wishes, sizes, age and gender are then transferred to paper angels to be placed on Christmas trees in the community where they can be adopted. This year, angels are also up for adoption online in collaboration with JC Penney at www.jcp.com/angel. Gifts for online angels can be purchased online through JC Penney. On Monday there were still 12 local children waiting to be adopted online.

Salvation Army volunteers staff each Christmas tree with adoptable angels. The local angel tree is set up in the food court at the Tanger Outlets this year. 

The Salvation Army is also responsible for the Red Kettles campaign. The campaign collects donations from the public in kettles throughout the community, including local Wal-Marts and other retail locations. The Salvation Army uses the donations to fund projects, which bring Christmas to those who would be forgotten otherwise. The Red Kettles are staffed by bell-ringing volunteers from Nov. 13-Dec. 24. Donations can be made at the Wal-mart location in Foley from now until Christmas Eve.

Volunteers can also contact the Salvation Army at 251-438-1625 to set up a time to volunteer with the Angel Tree or the Red Kettle campaign.

Monetary donations to the Salvation Army can be made online by visiting www.secure.salvationarmy.org.