ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s beginning to look a lot like Santa’s workshop with thousands of toys donated to the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.
From volunteers organizing gifts, to wheeling down bicycles, News 6 was there to see all the hard work from the Joy Center.
“You know what, that’s what its all about. It’s giving back,” Josie Pedragoza said.
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Pedragoza has been volunteering with the Salvation Army for about seven years and said this is her favorite time of the year to help out.
“It’s on Dec. 15 when they come and pick up the gifts and you see the parents eyes and the smile because we are in the middle of the pandemic. People lost their jobs, lost their home,” Pedragoza said.
Five-thousand children and 1,000 seniors from the Angel Tree program were all adopted this year.
An incredible goal that’s been in the works for months in order to bring a Christmas miracle to families in need.
“This is when I start crying, to see the community and Orange County just continuing to give,” Capt. Jessie Chapman said.
Chapman explained volunteers at the Joy Center spend hours making sure each child registered has the right toys and clothes they requested.
“We know that parents have to come to apply and that takes gas and it takes planning. They have to pick up their items again that takes fuel and maybe even child care so we want to make sure it’s worth their wild,” Chapman said.
And though it was busy, it was all smiles at the Joy Center because all the volunteers have one thing in mind: To give back.
“I just want to make just give the kids smile on Christmas day when they open their gifts,” Pedragoza said.
The Salvation Army said it still needs more volunteers for distribution day on Dec. 15.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Octavio Serrano at 407-247-8964 or email at octavio.serrano@uss.salvationarmy.org