About the
Lakeland - West Polk County Angel Tree

Angel Tree connects generous hearts with real needs, making Christmas meaningful for families.

Bright smiles and happy hearts—Angel Tree brings Christmas joy to children in need.

Our volunteers make the season brighter, delivering gifts and hope to every child.

Making a difference in your community…

Each year, Angel Tree provides gifts and support to around 1000 children right here in West Polk County.

Angels can be adopted by your business, your Sunday School Class, your family, or an individual. You can help!

Angels are available at 2425 William Booth Way in Lakeland, FL or contact us and we will drop them off to you.

Dedicated volunteers invest thousands of hours each year to make sure every Angel Child knows they are valued

Each year, te Angel Tree program is giving children in our community hope on Christmas morning!


	"A simple gift can do more than fill a wishlist—it can restore hope. Angel Tree helps children know they are loved and they matter." Captain Jessica Hedgren

How Angel Tree Works

1

Early in the season, families in need come to The Salvation Army for help with Christmas. Participants are interviewed to verify the family's level of need.

2

Angel Tree assesses needs by meeting families, understanding household challenges, and asking parents what each child truly needs. This ensures gifts bring joy, meet real needs, and support children with dignity.

3

ChatGPT said: Adopt an Angel! Salvation Army Lakeland Angel Tags list gifts for kids in need. Contact us and we’ll drop off a tag or pick up gifts at 2425 William Booth Way to bring joy this Christmas.

4

Generous donors select Angels, purchase gifts, and return them to the Angel Tree by the given deadline on each tag.

5

Upon their return, the gifts are taken to a Salvation Army Christmas Distribution Center for pickup by the Angel families.

6

Early in December, it is a joy to gather volunteers to distribute all the wonderful gifts to families for Christmas!

3

ChatGPT said: Adopt an Angel! Salvation Army Lakeland Angel Tags list gifts for kids in need. Contact us and we’ll drop off a tag or pick up gifts at 2425 William Booth Way to bring joy this Christmas.

4

Generous donors select Angels, purchase gifts, and return them to the Angel Tree by the given deadline on each tag.

5

Upon their return, the gifts are taken to a Salvation Army Christmas Distribution Center for pickup by the Angel families.

6

Early in December, it is a joy to gather volunteers to distribute all the wonderful gifts to families for Christmas!

5

Upon their return, the gifts are taken to a Salvation Army Christmas Distribution Center for pickup by the Angel families.

6

Early in December, it is a joy to gather volunteers to distribute all the wonderful gifts to families for Christmas!

A History Of Community Involvement

Along with the familiar Red Kettles, the Angel Tree program is one of The Salvation Army's highest profile Christmas efforts. Angel Tree was created by The Salvation Army in 1979 by Majors Charles and Shirley White when they worked with a Lynchburg, Virginia shopping mall to provide clothing and toys for children at Christmas time.

The program got its name because the Whites identified the wishes of local children by writing their gift needs on Hallmark greeting cards that featured pictures of angels. They placed the cards on a Christmas tree at the mall to allow shoppers to select children to help. Thanks to the Whites, who were assigned by The Army to the Lynchburg area at the time, more than 700 children had a brighter Christmas that first year.

Three years later, when the Whites were transferred to Nashville, Tennessee, Angel Tree was launched in the Music City. WSM radio, which airs the Grand Ol' Opry, came on board that year as the first Angel Tree co-sponsor in the U.S.

Because of the on-air promotion on WSM in Nashville, as well as national publicity on CNN and the Larry King Show, news of Angel Tree spread across the country like wildfire.