The Salvation Army of Central Indiana kicked off its annual Angel Tree Toy Shop distribution on Thursday. The five-day distribution will take place through Tuesday, Dec. 19 at three locations in Marion and Hamilton counties.
The program serves 5,000 children from central Indiana whose families are in need of a little extra help this Christmas.
A new addition to the traditional Angel Tree program this year is the opportunity for parents and guardians to shop for gifts through a “Toy Shop” at each distribution location. After shopping from thousands of donated toys and choosing the perfect gifts for each child, parents are able to take the presents home, wrap them, and give them to their children on Christmas morning. Each Angel participating in the program will also receive a package of socks, underwear, and a Bible.
“Shifting to this model allows us more time with families so that we can have a deeper impact and provide more care,” Central Indiana Area Commander Major Rachel Stouder said. “This gives parents more control over and choice of what they are giving to their children. Data is showing that the impact of continuing to provide choices and an opportunity for greater participation on the part of the parents is not only noticed in increased dignity but there’s also a higher volume of families who are happy to be a part of other caring programs.”
Parents and guardians will shop for their children at a designated location. Each site is equipped with thousands of toys from which they can shop.
- Carmel United Methodist Church, 621 S. Range Line Road: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 16
- The Salvation Army Fountain Square Corps Community Center, 1337 Shelby St., Indianapolis: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 15, 18, and 19
- The Salvation Army Eagle Creek Corps Community Center, 4400 N. High School Road, Indianapolis: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 15 and 19
Many local families and companies sponsored Angels in 2024, including Mavpak, Bastian Solutions, and Flexware Innovation. The Indiana Pacers also donated hundreds of toys to ensure that every child can receive a toy through the Angel Tree Toy Shop. This year’s 19th annual Circle City Toy Run provided several truckloads of toys to give parents plenty of options when shopping for their children.
Volunteers have been invaluable through this months-long process and in recent weeks have helped to sort and conduct quality checks of each donation. Volunteers are still needed for several of the upcoming distribution days. To learn more or sign up, visit SACentralIndiana.org/AngelTreeToyShop.