The Pampa Salvation Army’s Red Kettle and Angel Tree campaign is kicking off this month.
The Angel Tree project will run from Monday, Nov. 15 through Dec. 15.
“The tree will be located near the Service Center at Walmart,” Regional Representative Shelby Huff said. “Families come into the Salvation Army building located at 701 South Cuyler Street to sign up. Sign-ups are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They just need to come up at that time to sign up.”
Those interested in signing up for the Angel Tree will need to provide a valid photo ID/driver’s license/immigration card, a utility bill, a birth certificate/Medicaid Card/Proof of Guardianship and a proof of residence (lease agreement/homeowner letter). The tree is for children 12 and under.
“It’s all anonymous so no one will know who is actually on the tree,” Huff said. “What we need from the public is to go by the Tree, pick an angel off the tree and provide gifts for those families.”
The Red Kettle season kicks off on Black Friday and will go through Dec. 24, except on Sundays. Volunteers are in need for the bell-ringing.
“We have three locations this year,” Huff said. “Walmart (two kettles) is always a huge contributor, United Supermarket and Hobby Lobby. Individuals can sign up at https://signup.com/go/KiUESyX.”
Volunteers are asked to work in two-hour increments.
Those interested in donating to the Salvation Army have multiple avenues to do so.
• Donate digitally with Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo at your local kettle
• Ask Amazon’s Alexa to donate by saying, “Alexa, donate to The Salvation Army,” and then specifying the amount
• Give any amount by texting “KETTLES” to 51555
• Provide Christmas gifts to children of local families in need through The Salvation Army Angel Tree Project
• If you can help, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org
The Pampa Salvation Army is going through a re-structure and hopes to be able to assist families with food boxes by the end of the year.
“Before we had an employee and it was a center,” Huff said. “The employee kept the office open and provided food boxes to the public. Because of fundraising efforts decreasing, funds have decreased. We no longer could afford an employee, which is normal. We are volunteer ran and I am in the middle of re-structuring and recruiting volunteers to serve on our board.”
Huff lives in Pampa and is the regional representative, overseeing 30 different Salvation Army units across the Texas Panhandle.
The Pampa Salvation Army is a Pampa United Way agency.
For more information or to volunteer, call 806-441-2971.
