Holiday Opportunities to Support Our Communities

Oct 29, 2020

The Need Has Always Been There – This Year It Just Happens to Be Greater

Four mainstays of the holiday season are underway during a year where unprecedented need is expected. The Salvation Army is pleased to announce the following opportunities for anyone to take advantage of in order to get involved with our mission to Rescue Christmas. We thank all of our local community supporters, as well as the Peoria area businesses whose generosity continues to make these services & programs possible for those in need.

What is being offered:

• Coat Distribution
• Food Basket Sign Ups
• Angel Tree Program – (Available at local Walmart and Sam’s Club locations starting November 2nd)
• Angel Tree Registry – (Click to view the online option for donating toys for local children in your area)

Key dates to remember:

• November 3rd & 4 from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at The Salvation Army’s Corps Community Center on 2903 W. Nebraska Avenue, Peoria
• November 11th from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and November 13th from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at The Salvation Army Family Service Center on 417 NE Adams St., Peoria

Details on each program:

• Coats for Kids Program - Entering its 35th year, OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, WEEK-TV & The Salvation Army are sponsoring this program aimed at ensuring no child goes without a winter coat. Over the past 34 years, 47,680 coats have been distributed to local area children and adults thanks to the overwhelming support of the community. Key dates for this year:
  • Now through December 4th - New or gently-used coats in children’s and young adults’ sizes are being collected throughout Central Illinois.

• Holiday Food Baskets - The Salvation Army partners with The Peoria Journal Star each year to distribute food baskets to families in need during the holiday season. The Journal Star raises money for these food baskets and last year alone, these efforts were able to provide over 4,700 food baskets.
  • Two ways to sign up for a Food Basket...
    • Sign up for a Food Basket in-person during Coat Distribution at one of the dates and times listed above.
    • Mail a letter to the Peoria Journal Star - addressed: Christmas Baskets, Journal Star, One News Plaza, Peoria, IL 61643 which should contain the following information:
      • Your name
      • Your address WITH APARTMENT NUMBER
      • Phone number where you can be reached
      • Total number of people in household

Additional Holiday Programs:

• Angel Tree Program - All Peoria area Walmart and Sam’s Club locations will have Angel Tree Tags available beginning November 2nd. This program gives members of the community a way to get involved during the holidays by giving holiday joy and gifts to children in need who would otherwise go without for Christmas. This is a great way for families and groups to get involved in sharing with those who are less fortunate.
• Angel Tree Registry - This is another program The Salvation Army offers in conjunction with Walmart. For those who do not wish to, or are unable to visit a store in person to donate toys this year: Go online to the Angel Tree Registry that has been set up to benefit local community children. Select the toy(s) you’d like to purchase for the Toy Distribution in December & help give the gift of Hope to a child in need!

Click Here to Visit Our Angel Tree Online Registry

For more information on the Angel Tree & Angel Tree Registry, contact Major Heath Sells: (309) 682-8886.

For information on any of the other programs, contact Lisa Alexander: 655-7272.