Tulsa Company Gives To Angel Tree In A Big Way

We only have a week and a half until Christmas and a lot of people have their shopping done, including some folks who gave quite generously to the Salvation Army Angel Tree.

The receptionist desk at CFS II is behind a wall of presents the company collected for the Salvation Army Angel tree.

The company has 200 employees and adopted 300 families. The Salvation Army says it's the most successful drive at a business so far this year.

"Even though we do have a 20 percent increase in need, I think Tulsans are going to help cover it," said Sally Godwin of the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army loaded up the toys to move them to a distribution site. Each one is tagged with a bar code that connects it to the family which requested it.

The unusually large support from the employees at CFS II was partly inspired by the story of Ramona Drywater--an employee, who just a few years ago was on the receiving side of the Angel Tree for her two daughters.

"I can understand the feeling they're going to have inside because they're going to wake up and have something underneath the tree. All little kids deserve that," Drywater said.

This year the Salvation Army says more companies have supported the Angel Tree with drives like this - which are now responsible for half of all their collections.

CFS II founder Bill Bartmann said his employees, who collect debt, are especially aware of the needs of poor people.

"The whole company got behind that mood and said let's do everything we can and I think we're doing OK so far," Bartmann said.

The toys, compiled directly from the lists of children, will be distributed starting this Saturday. The sign up to receive gifts through the Salvation Army has already closed for this year.