THE LINES ARE NOW CLOSED
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — At the Salvation Army headquarters, it wasn’t quite the Grinch that Stole Christmas.
“Last week we sweated a little bit because the lines went down,” Barbara Tillery, the director of Social Services for the Salvation Army, told WREG.
But call it a Christmas phone call glitch that almost did.
The Angel Tree Hotline was temporarily shutdown after so many people in need tried to get through asking for help providing Christmas presents for their children,
“The need is much greater. People are trying to get through the lines hoping and praying they can provide Christmas for their children,”Tillery said.
After a week-long delay, phone lines were fixed and Salvation Army workers began taking calls this week.
“Many need to pay the rent, the utility bill, but still are worried about what Christmas looks like for their families.”
First, families must be screened by the Salvation Army.
“We make sure they meet our criteria,” Tillery told WREG. “That is income, children in-house and they haven’t been in the Angel Tree program last year.”
This year, it’s believed the Angel Tree program will help more than 3,000 needy families, and once again WREG is glad to lend a hand as a proud sponsor to make sure all children feel the magic of Christmas joy.
“Last year, like every year, there are names that don’t get pulled and Channel 3 comes in with a big push and the children are served. We are really happy about that,” Tillery said.
The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree hotline is open Monday through Friday.
The new number to call is 901-528-1927.