Families Register For Salvation Army's Angel Tree

The plans for this year's Salvation Army Angel Tree are underway.<br/> <br/>More than 4,000 families will be helped out by everyone who adopts an Angel from the tree at Woodland Hills mall.<br/><br/>News

Friday, November 10th 2006, 10:02 am

By: News On 6

The plans for this year's Salvation Army Angel Tree are underway.

More than 4,000 families will be helped out by everyone who adopts an Angel from the tree at Woodland Hills mall.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says after Woodland Hills Mall closes Friday night, the tree will be put up and decorated with the names of hundreds of needy children, who just want something for Christmas.

There's a big group of people here on the last day of registration for the Angel Tree. Almost all of them are mothers; many of them speak Spanish. One by one they're called in to fill out some paperwork to make sure they qualify.

Sandra Ward is here for the grandchildren she's raising, "You know with feeding and clothing and them growing, I need all the help I can get."

Ward says she's already getting help with her utilities. Here she'll get help with Christmas gifts. "And the reason why is that I want them to have a wonderful Christmas."

The Salvation Army helped 4,500 families this way last year. This year, they expect to help more, "To the Salvation Army, it's very important that each child, feels that special gift on Christmas Day," said Brad Borrer with the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army takes step to make the toy giveaway fair, and make sure it's only for people who really need the help. They check identification, and ask for verification of income, and to make it better for the children, they ask for very specific Christmas wishes. "They asked for the shoe sizes, they asked any special things the kids might want, even to bikes, can you believe it?" said Ward.

Each of the families registering Friday will return in mid December to pick up their gifts from the Angel Tree.

Last year's angel tree was a success, but as always, the need was even greater than what was given.

This year the Salvation Army hopes every Angel can be adopted by someone, so every child will have something under their tree Christmas morning.

The tree will be located on the lower level near Sears.

News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson and Terry Hood will be at Woodland Hills Mall Saturday at 11 a.m. to choose the first honorary angel of the season.