Salvation Army Lessens Burden For Struggling Tulsa Families

While a joyous occasion for many, for some families the holidays are scrambling to make ends meet in order to make Christmas a reality.

That's where the Salvation Army comes in -- on Saturday, people lined up for the second day of Christmas distribution of food and toys.

Kerie Shearer is a single mom with two kids. She goes to school full time, and this holiday season money is tight.

"It's very, very hard,” Shearer said. “It’s like, if you don't have the money for it, it's like where am I getting these gifts? How am I making this special just for them?"

That's why she says she's so thankful for the Salvation Army.

She can pick up toys for her kids and get a few staples for Christmas dinner -- a gesture that makes all the difference in her kids holiday.

“It does, with very little income on my part until after I get completely out of school it helps, especially with all my money going to bills and everything else,” she said.

This year, the Salvation Army is helping 4,023 families and putting smiles on little faces for Christmas so that everyone has a holiday to remember.

“It's always fun watching them just rip open the paper,” Shearer said. “That's what makes it the most enjoyable right there."

This year The Salvation Army had to fill more than 1,000 angel tree gifts themselves because some angels weren't adopted or brought back.

Volunteers say The Salvation Army spent more than 5,000 on toys to make sure the distribution could happen.

They could use more help and are asking people to continue donating to the red kettles all over town.