For many families, the Christmas holiday is a celebratory time full of gift giving. But what happens when families are struggling to make ends meet?
The Salvation Army in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood has stepped up this holiday season to help parents and guardians in need with an Angel Tree Toy Drive.
Throughout Christmas week, the organization will be providing gifts for low-income families who have applied for holiday assistance through Salvation Army's online portal.
"We have served about 300 children so far and we are on day two of this program," Erin Wikle, a corps officer with the Salvation Army, told KCBS Radio's "Bay Current" on Wednesday. "We will end up serving just under 1,300 children this year."
The Salvation Army toy program hopes to make Christmas a brighter day for those who are struggling during the holidays.
"Qualifying families are ones who live in the San Francisco Metro Area, are low-income and just have that extra need," Wikle said. "We process the applications and work hard to quickly get the requests into the community so donors can fill those needs."
Parents are sometimes reduced to tears when picking up gifts for their children. "There was a family that came earlier, and the mother was super emotional," Wikle remembered. "She was grateful to have any kind of help this year."
The Angel Tree Toy Drive occurs annually in the SoMa District. Qualifying families may register through the Salvation Army website, but Wednesday is the last day to apply.
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