The Salvation Army Orlando recently reported that they managed to raise over $320,000 on the Giving Tuesday event. The nonprofit teamed up with News 6. The news channel reportedly hosted a phone bank to benefit the Angel Tree Program. 

Helping Families During Holidays

In a report with Click Orlando, the phone bank took place on Tuesday, Nov. 30. News 6 partnered with the nonprofit and BFARR Contracting. 

The Salvation Army said that the program would benefit children and families in need during the holidays. 

The faith-based nonprofit hopes to spread a little Christmas cheer by providing families with new toys and clothing. 

This year, 5,000 angels signed up for the program. Those angels represent a child not older than 14 years old in Orange and Osceola counties. 

Another 1,000 seniors signed up for the program. Many of those who signed up had a rough life and said that they might not have a Christmas if it were not for Angel Tree donations.

Seniors in Need 

In an earlier report with Click Orlando, seniors who signed up for the Angel Tree Program shared gratitude for the Salvation Army. 

Arthur Washington said that the nonprofit was the greatest organization in the world. He admitted that if it were not for the Angel Tree Program, he would not have received any gifts for Christmas. 

The senior shared that he could not recall when he received a present before he knew of the program. 

Washington told the news outlet that he had a rough start in life. Many of the seniors enrolled in the program now live in Salvation Army's William Booth Towers. They were homeless and out in the streets before the nonprofit took them in. 

George Carrion said that he did not realize that there were that many homeless people in Orlando until he came to the shelter. He called living with the community a good experience. 

Laura Del Valle told the news outlet that she has volunteered with the nonprofit for many years. She is also a long-time resident at the William Booth Towers. According to the report, she lived there for almost three decades.

Del Valle shared that Christmas was her favorite time of the year. She also said she hopes to receive a new microwave as a gift. 

She added that many people were always generous during Christmas. Del Valle said she was thankful for the beautiful presents. 

Going Extra Mile

Volunteers are also stepping up to help during the Angel Tree Program. Roy Arnason and his daughter, Cianna, said that they wanted to do more to help. 

The older Arnason told Click Orlando that he had been a volunteer for years. 

He shared that a 28-year-old mother was about to apply for the Angel Tree Program when she died. When he heard of the news from the nonprofit, he stepped up to help the young mother's grieving family. 

Arnason explained that he was blessed all his life with a good life and healthy children. He wanted to find a way to give back, and he decided that helping the woman's family was his way of paying it forward. 

He and his family will be helping the deceased mother's children. They will donate toys to her sister's mother as well. 

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