Tulsa Salvation Army Makes Plea For Toys

TULSA, OK – The Salvation Army is 1,000 toys short of giving a good Christmas to 11,400 Tulsa-area children, according to Area Commander Major Roy Williams.

"Donations are down about 20%and needs are up about 25%," Williams said. "Also, the recession and bad weather hit our Motorcycle Toy event hard and we're trying to recover from it."

The Salvation Army's annual Motorcycle Toy Run was changed to a Toy Meet this year because of the high cost of closing off streets from 61st and Riverside to OSU-Tulsa, Williams said.

"We greatly appreciate the bikers who showed up at the meet, but we usually get more than 1,000 toys. About 50 bikers attended and we received about 100 toys," Williams said.

Williams is urging Tulsans to support Salvation Army Toy Drives that are currently underway.  BOk will also place toy barrels at Woodland Hills Mall from Dec. 13 – 16.

The Angel Tree program, sponsored by KOTV Channel 6 and K95.5 FM, is at Woodland Hills Mall and Promenade Mall. Participants take a tag off the Angel Tree that has the name, age and Christmas wish list for one child, and then drop the appropriate toys back off at either mall by Dec. 12.

This season's annual Red Kettle Campaign also supports toys for children. Two dates for intensive bell ringing are Dec. 14 – 15. On Monday, Dec. 14, high school football teams will compete in a "Ringathon" at area Wal-Mart Super Centers. The football teams will attempt to out-ring Union football players, last year's trophy winners.

Tuesday, Dec. 15, Tulsa Police will square off against Tulsa Firefighters at Woodland Hills Mall.

Related Story 11/21/2009: Annual Angel Tree Program Begins In Tulsa