MAYOR FOUTS ENCOURAGES SUPPORT FOR CHRISTMAS AT THE WARREN SALVATION ARMY

Every year my office hosts an Angel Tree Toy and Food Drive for the Salvation Army. The items collected are distributed to our residents in need here in Warren. This year it will be different because our city offices are closed to the public due to COVID-19. This year more than ever families are in greater need due to the pandemic.

The Salvation Army is trying something different this year in order to properly socially distance. They are taking applications online for families (with children aged 14 or younger) and seniors (aged 55 or older) in need.  (FLYER ATTACHED)  https://saangeltree.org/

• Once they have applied, their application is reviewed.  Once approved, the applicant will receive an email with a date and time to pick up their toys and gift card during their drive thru distribution that will be held in their parking lot mid-December. The applicants will not be allowed in the building this year due to COVID-19, so they will be pre-selecting and pre-bagging the toys for each family.

The safest and easiest way for people to give toys to this program is to shop their Warren Corps Walmart.com Gift Registry.  (FLYER ATTACHED)  https://tinyurl.com/walmartangeltreewarrenmi

•  Once the donor purchases the toys, they are automatically mailed to their Warren Corps.  They will then match the gift with one of the kids waiting to be adopted on their list.

If people prefer to adopt a specific “Angel” based on age, gender or wish list item, their adoption page is https://tinyurl.com/adoptsaangelswarrenmicorps

•  Once a donor fills out the online adoption form, they are emailed instructions on how to drop the gift off at The Warren Corps.

Because their distribution is mid-December, they ask that all donated toys reach them no later than December 7^th so that they have time to sort and bag them appropriately.