NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WKBW) — Salvation Army Major Stephen Carroll and Major Delia Carroll said it's incredibly rewarding to be able to help children and their families during the holidays.
"My mom was one of the kids back in the 60s who got a doll from the Salvation Army," said Major Stephen Carroll.
Major Delia Carroll is leading the charge to make sure every family that reaches out to them for help gets presents this year...despite the difficulties from COVID-19.
"We're helping 100 children more than we have helped in previous years. So we're up, closer to 500 children that we will be helping," she said.
The need for toys is higher, and the number of volunteers is lower. They are re either afraid of getting sick, are working from home, or just aren't able to help out this year.
But the Salvation Army is committed to putting presents under hundreds of Christmas trees in Western New York.
"Walmart has agreed to do an Angel Tree, as we as Sam's Club. And so when you walk into both of the Niagara Falls Walmart and Sam's club, you'll see Angel Trees with Angel tags on them for boys and girls," said Delia.
If you are able to donate toys, you can donate basically anything as long as it's brand new.
"When we talk about the toy needs here in Niagara Falls, that's duplicated throughout Western New York and beyond. And so every Salvation Army unit and all the other agencies that we work with and that we partner with are all seeing the same need," said Stephen.
The Salvation Army hopes to receive donations by December 14, and will be distributing toys on December 21 and 22.
