Tulsans, American Airlines Combine To Help Salvation Army Reach Angel Tree Goal

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

Even though the economy has made giving difficult this year, the Salvation Army says Tulsans are coming through.

Today the Salvation Army's largest corporate sponsor helped make up for a shortage of toys.

The Salvation Army was more than 4,000 toys short of its goal going into the weekend but now thanks to generous Tulsans and American Airlines, the Angel Tree is reaching its goal.

Sallie Godwin, Salvation Army, said, "We were extremely concerned because we had whole age groups who had no toys at all, especially boys seven to eleven. Those boxes were empty"

The Salvation Army cites the recession for an increase in need and a dip in toy donations.

"We had 1,500 more parents and families sign up then last year. We did see an increase," Godwin said.

American Airlines came through with a thousand of those toys at the eleventh hour.

Carmine Romano, American Airlines Senior VP, said, "We have our elves and the North Pole workshop is where we are now. It is something they wanted to do for the community because they feel very fortunate to be able to have good jobs here at American Airlines so they definitely want to give back to the community."

"We are thrilled that we now have enough toys that each kid of 11,400 will get at least one toy," Godwin said.

American Airlines is the biggest corporate sponsor for the Angel Tree, choosing 1,000 angels every year. Clothes and toys fill the offices and hallways, dolls, footballs and scooters.

Twenty bikes alone were contributed by employees of the paint and fiberglass shop.

"Everybody's really giving and in the Christmas spirit so it feels real good to give like Carmine said Christmas morning somebody is going to wake up and there is going to be a bike under the tree," Troy Anspaw, American Airlines, said.

A last minute group of angels come through down to the last toy.

It is too late to adopt an angel from the Angel Tree but if you adopted one and have not turned into the gifts, you can still do that, just take the unwrapped presents to the service desks at either Promenade or Woodland Hills malls.

The Salvation Army is also accepting donations through Wednesday at all Bank of Oklahoma locations, participating grocery stores and Dollar Generals.