The Elgin Salvation Army might need a Christmas miracle if it’s to secure enough toys for local children through its holiday gift program.
“The number of toys we have right now is very low,” said Maj. Roberto Viquez, who oversees the Elgin corps with his wife, Maj. Melissa Viquez.
As of Wednesday night, they had collected only about 300 toys through its Angel Tree Program, which relies on donations from local merchants, businesses and other organizations, Melissa Viquez said.
Last year, the program distributed 12,749 toys to children from 900 families, Roberto Viquez said. The number of families wanting to take part will be about the same as last year but it looks like they’ll need to cap it at 600 families to ensure they have enough gifts, he said.
Distribution days are set for Dec. 19-20 at the Elgin Corps Community Center on Douglas Avenue.
At the same time, kettle collections are down significantly as well, Roberto Viquez said.
In 2022, the Elgin Salvation Army set a goal of $240,000 but brought in less than $200,000 during its annual bell-ringing campaign. This year, with Christmas fast approaching, it seems likely the campaign might collect $150,000 or less, he said.
The toy program places gift tags on Christmas trees set up at local places, Melissa Viquez said. Each tag lists the gifts requested by or for a local child through the Salvation Army program.
Three companies that have taken part in the effort previously decided this year to adopt families on their own rather than asking workers to participate in the Angel Tree Program, Melissa Viquez said. Other companies have opted to work with other organizations instead.
“This year has been very different,” she said.
One exception has been the Walmart Supercenter on Randall Road. The store has agreed to fulfill 150 more gift request tags beyond the 150 already claimed by people, Melissa Viquez said.
The downturn is not unique to Elgin.
The Salvation Army North and Central Illinois Division said in a statement issued Wednesday that their local corps community centers are thousands of gifts behind what they had last year.
“Corps community centers are warning of deficits at all age levels,” the release said.
Gifts for boys and girls, from newborns to 18-year-olds, are needed across the state. Unwrapped, age-appropriate toys for babies, toddlers and adolescent children are being requested in addition to gift cards for teenagers, the nonprofit organization said.
In Elgin, the need is greater for toys that can be given to girls, Melissa Viquez said.
“We have more toys for boys right now, which is unusual,” she said.
Anyone who would like to donate a toy or gift card to the program should call 847-741-2304 or email Melissa.Viquez@usc.salvationarmy.org for more details.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
