TAMPA, Fla. — Thursday is the deadline to return Angel Tree gifts in several Tampa Bay areas, including Pinellas County, and the Salvation Army says it’s seeing a surge in both need and attention this year, partly because of TikTok.
Videos showing large “Angel Tree hauls” have circulated widely on the platform, prompting some viewers to question whether filming the process goes against the spirit of quiet giving. But organizers say the attention is helping.
The Angel Tree program “depends on the kindness of strangers,” and while the TikTok trend has stirred debate, organizers say they welcome it because more visibility means more children get gifts…