Elgin Salvation Army Maj. Robert Viquez has faith that somehow they’ll have enough toys for the 540 families expected to come through their community center doors in just 10 days’ time.
But, right now, “we are very, very short on toys this year,” Viquez said.
Typically by this time of the year, they have a good supply in hand and they’re close to what they need for the event, which is being held Dec. 21-22, he said.
“We noticed we don’t have enough. We don’t have what we need,” he said. “It’s a lot of people and a lot of kids.”
The Salvation Army has an Angel Tree set up at the Elgin Walmart store at 1100 S. Randall Road, but not many of the toys requested have been donated, Viquez said. They will receive some from Toys for Tots but most of them are stocking stuffers, he said.
“We are putting the word out and pleading with the community that we need help,” said Viquez, who has been doing presentations for organizations, businesses and community leaders in an effort to spur donations.
Isaac Moreno dressed as the Grinch — the version who sees the error of his ways and repents — during his 2023 volunteer shift distributing gifts for the Elgin Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. (Mike Danahey/The Courier-News)
Families in need sign up in advance in order to participate in the toy distribution. In the past, they’ve been able to help people who haven’t signed up but this year that’s not likely to happen, Viquez said.
Last year, about 700 families received gifts for their children through the two-day giveaway. When they put out word that they didn’t have enough toys for girls, a business that sells dolls cleared out its warehouse and donated hundreds of them to the agency. The donation came just in time, he said.
“We are pleading with the community. We are trusting the community and trusting in God,” Viquez said. “He can provide for us.”
Donations can be made through the Angel Tree at Walmart or dropped off at the Salvation Army’s 316 Douglas Ave. office.
The holidays are a big time for Salvation Army, which relies on its Red Kettle campaign to raise the money needed to help people throughout the year.
That need was in evidence at an event held Dec. 7, when more than 400 families took part in the agency’s monthly home goods distribution. Viquez said. Each received a box filled with items like toothpaste, cleaning supplies, toilet paper and other things that can’t be purchased through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food benefits to low-income families.
Children also had a chance at that event to have their photo taken with Santa.
The nonprofit partnered with other organizations for the event to let people know it was happening, Viquez said.
“There are a lot of immigrants and refugees coming here. There is information that they need to learn about,” he said.
The Salvation Army also conducts monthly food distributions.
This year’s Red Kettle campaign, with the theme “Love Beyond Christmas,” launched in October — earlier than normal — in the hope that Elgin might achieve its $235,000 goal. They fell short of that mark by $34,000 in 2023 and were forced to cut back on some expenses, Viquez said.
Despite the earlier launch, they’re still “a little bit off from last year” at the same time, he said. When the weather turns cold and windy, the number of bell ringers who will go out to collect in person donations gets reduced, he said. Often people won’t donate if there’s no one at a kettle.
Contributions can also be made online, which is something the agency has tried to promote in recent years. Their website is centralusa.salvationarmy.org/elgin.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
