Presents under the Christmas tree: Help the Salvation Army make sure every child has gifts
The deadline to sign up for gift assistance is Friday, Nov. 6.The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland will make the holidays special for thousands of children and families in need by getting presents under the Christmas tree through its Christmas Assistance program.
“As the holiday season rapidly approaches, The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland encourages those most in need to sign up today,” says Captain Joel Ashcraft, Salvation Army area commander. “We want to ensure that we can bring joy, smiles, and full spirits to children in Greater Cleveland with presents under the tree on Christmas morning. No child should have to wake up to an empty tree, and our goal is to fill that tree.”
Families with children 12 and younger who are seeking Christmas assistance can register in person at any Cleveland Salvation Army Corps Community Center listed below. To make support easier to access, The Salvation Army’s Christmas Assistance program now also offers a simple online application.
After registering for the program, families will be assigned a date and time to pick up toys. Last year, the Christmas distribution program assisted more than 2,800 families and provided toys to more than 6,300 children.
“Christmas is such an important time in a child's development,” says Captain Ashcraft. “We’ve seen that opening a toy on Christmas morning can boost a child’s self-esteem, academic performance, and social interactions. We’re excited to introduce a new online format to expand the support we can offer in Cuyahoga County.”
In-person registration is open through Friday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following Salvation Army locations:
The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland will make the holidays special for thousands of children and families in need by getting presents under the Christmas tree through its Christmas Assistance program.
- Salvation Army East Cleveland Corps: 1507 Doan Ave., East Cleveland, OH 44112 | Phone: (216) 249-4334
- Salvation Army Miles Park Corps: 4139 E. 93rd St., Cleveland, OH 44105 | Phone: (216) 341-1640
- Salvation Army Ohio City Corps: 4402 Clark Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109 | Phone: (216) 631-1515
- Salvation Army Temple Corps: 17625 Grovewood Ave., Cleveland, OH 44119 | Phone: (216) 692-1388
- Salvation Army West Park Corps: 12645 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113 | Phone: (216) 252-3593
Documentation needed
The following documentation will be required to register both in person and online:
- Government-issued photo I.D. is required to register.
- Birth certificate or current medical benefit card for each child 12 years old and younger.
- Copies of county benefits, HEAP Application, and school records—all are beneficial to show proof of household.
For those who want to help the Salvation Army make local families’ holidays a little more cheerful, monetary donations are also being accepted.
For questions regarding Christmas assistance, please contact one of the Corps Community Centers listed above, call (216) 861-8185. or visit www.SalvationArmyCleveland.org.