For the first time in several years, every single Angel on the Salvation Army Angel Tree has been adopted — ensuring more than 35,000 children, older adults, and adults with disabilities will have something special this holiday season.

But the Salvation Army said not all of the donated gifts have been returned and they’re urging donors to drop off presents by Tuesday at one of the four distribution centers across Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Ellis counties.

Dallas County
Christmas Center Dallas County
9216 Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas

Tarrant County
Christmas Center Tarrant County
229 E. Felix Street in Fort Worth

Collin County
Plano Corps Community Center
3528 14th Street in Plano

Ellis County
Waxahachie Corps Community Center
620 Farley Street in Waxahachie

The organization said gifts must be bagged for each Angel to ensure smooth distribution to families. Families receiving Angel Tree gifts are able to pick them up through Thursday.

On Tuesday, staff from the Dallas Cowboys and NBC 5/Telemundo 39 volunteered to gather gifts and distribute them to Angel Tree Families.

“Yeah, we’re reporting every day about the need to adopt angels every Christmas,” NBC 5 morning reporter Alanna Quillan said as she got her steps in gathering gift bags. “But then you see it here in this gigantic warehouse, it really puts everything into perspective.”

Officials said this year’s community response has been remarkable.

“There are individual stories of why people adopt, or because they were helped when they were a child. And that was the reason they got a Christmas. And so now they can’t afford to help somebody else. It’s always touching and encouraging when a community comes out and helps other people in need. And the reason it varies. And we just listen to their stories. And all their stories are so special to hear why they’re helping with Angel’s tree,” said Maj. Carolynn Webb with the Salvation Army.

With a greater need than ever, volunteers stepped in to help distribute gifts to more than 35,000 children through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. NBC 5, Telemundo 39 and the Dallas Cowboys joined forces to ensure every gift reached a family in time for Christmas. NBC 5’s Noelle Walker has the story.

NBC 5 has been a sponsor since the Salvation Army Angel Tree started in North Texas in 1984. It is the biggest Angel Tree program in the country.

“It’s like almost overwhelming, all of the love you feel in North Texas, all of the donations, all of those that can help do help,” NBC 5/Telemundo 39 President and General Manager Tony Canales said. “I hope they feel hope because that’s exactly what it’s all about.”

If you’d still like to help the Salvation Army of North Texas Angel Tree, you can donate money. It costs about $25 per angel to operate the program.