(Photo provided)

The Salvation Army will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Angel Tree in Kosciusko County on Saturday, Dec. 14.

The WIOE Jet Copter or “Sky Angel” will fly Santa to four stops in Warsaw to meet and greet people and celebrate. Santa will stop at Walmart at 10 a.m. and then travel to Marsh Supermarket where people should be there around 10:20 a.m. From there he will fly to JB’s Furniture where people should assemble around 10:50 a.m. The last stop for Santa will be at K-Mart and the The Party Shop where folks should be ready to greet him at 11:20 a.m.

Angel Tree was started in 1988 by the Women’s Auxiliary of The Salvation Army to provide toys to children of persons incarcerated at Kosciusko County Jail. Marge Gast, who has since passed away, was the driving force in Angel Tree many years, insuring that children were helped during the Christmas holiday. Through the years the program has evolved to help children of all families in need.

The Salvation Army has provided Christmas Assistance for 92 years in the county but made a specific change 25 years ago. K-Mart has been a supporting business and host of a tree all 25 years so the last stop is there to thank them for their support. Angel Trees and those groups “adopting” children are supported by Depuy, Biomet, Medtronic, 1st United Methodist Church, Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Warsaw Kiwanis Club, Warsaw Rotary Club, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Harvest Community Church, Milford Successful 4-H, McDonald & Blakely Family, DJ Construction, Dental Solutions, Kosciusko REMC, Winona Lake Free Methodist Church, Amazing Grace Community Church, Warsaw Church of God, Rogers Electromatics and American Legion Post 49 and VFW Auxiliaries.

The Salvation Army anticipates helping around 628 children according to Ken Locke, Community Ministries Director. All gifts purchased to “adopt an angel” goes to the that family along with a gift certificate for food assistance. A total of 175 teens will receive a gift card sponsored by the Women’s Auxiliary.

For more information visit www.sawarsaw.org.