Salvation Army distributes Angel Tree presents before Christmas

CHATTANOOGA,Tenn. (WDEF)- Christmas is in the air as the Salvation Army distributes Angel Tree presents on Thursday. 

“Today is our second day of distribution for Angel Tree  program, and you can see right now we have got toys going all over the place, helping so many families here in the Greater Chattanooga area. We are just really excited to be here, and this is kind of like the highlight, the kind of the pinnacle of our Christmas season,” said Major Douglas McClure, Area Commander for the Salvation Army,

The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program has been going strong in the Scenic City since 1987. 

McClure considers this program a big deal in the community. 

“We know that there could be people who do not have anything underneath their tree for Christmas, but because the generosity of the whole community of Chattanooga and the work the salvation rate does to make sure these families are vetted properly and make sure we have everything taken care of, we know there is gifts underneath the tree, and that makes us happy. And it is not just kids. We also have seniors and stuff that are assisted by this program as well. So it is a big deal,” said McClure. 

 According to the Salvation Army, more than 17-hundred families will receive gifts for Christmas 

McClure feels privileged to give back during the Holidays. 

“This is the best time of the year for us.  We are the Christmas people. It is all about Christmas, from our kettle program out in front of the stores to the angels tree program to make sure gifts are under the tree. We are all about Christmas because we know Christmas brings hope, and we want to be part of the hope that is brought to the Chattanooga area,” said McClure. 

The Salvation Army looks to provide help to families in need this Holiday season. 

And As Christmas is next week, McClure believes Christmas is about one thing…

“It is the fact that somebody loves you in this community and there is hope for you. So when you think it’s dark, when you think it’s just cloudy outside, when you think there is nothing and nobody is there for you, you know that there are people that care about you, because you are not just getting a toy, you are getting hope, and you are getting somebody that loves you and cares about you each and every day,” McClure concluded.