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Angel Tree supplies clothing, toys for needy families |
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Thursday, 29 November 2007 |
by BRITTANY PENLAND
Intern News Reporter
Over 25 years since the program began, the Salvation Army continues its annual Angel Tree to help grant clothing and toys to underprivileged children for Christmas.
Each year, from November to Dec. 15, thousands of needy children’s names and ages are placed on angel ornaments and hung on Christmas trees in various locations nationwide.
Contributors to the Angel Tree select a name off of the tree and purchase clothing and necessities for that sponsored child.
“Our concern is to do what we can to bring joy and love into the lives
of families, even if it is only for one day,” said Pat Wright, a member
of the Asheville Salvation Army.
Children on the Angel Tree are 12 years of age and younger. Ideal gifts include winter coats, gloves, shoes, shirts, and pants.
 Abby M. Spear, a junior industrial design major, selects a toddler boy from the Angel Tree in Plemmons Student Union Tuesday. Photo by Derek DeSha
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Beginning Nov. 1, families in need were able to add an ‘Angel’s’ name to the list at their nearest Salvation Army.
“An Angel Tree benefits the community by bringing people together and
it gives people a chance to reach out and give to those less
fortunate,” freshman political science major Amber L. Clark said.
Because Boone is a service unit of Hickory, there is not an Angel Tree located in the immediate area.
However, there are plans underway to establish an Angel Tree on the Appalachian State University Campus before this Christmas.
Major Kent Davis of the Hickory Salvation Army said locals may also
contribute to Angel Trees in Hickory, Asheville, Lenoir, as well as
McDowell, Catawba, Avery, and Watauga counties.
“Boone is such a growing and ministry-focused town and I hope that
there will soon be an Angel Tree nearby,” freshman elementary education
major Jill H. Rutz said.
According to the Salvation Army’s Web site, Angel Trees are typically set up in high-traffic areas in a community.
Wright said large corporations, such as NBC or General Motors, as well
as organizations and universities can sponsor and set up an Angel Tree
on their premises.
Wright explains that depending on the size of the city, thousands of names are hung from the Angel Tree.
“You are providing something for a child who might not have a Christmas otherwise,” Kent said.
In metropolitan areas, one tree can contain the names of up to 50,000 children.
“I grew up buying gifts for the children on the Angel Tree and I miss
doing that around Christmas,” Rutz said. “I think it would be a great
opportunity to start an Angel Tree on campus.”
To organize all of the gifts that are purchased for the Angel Tree,
Salvation Army volunteers place the items into trash bags and label
each bag with an identification number.
In the weeks just prior to Christmas, parents of the ‘Angels’ pick up the toys, clothing and food.
Wright said the first Angel Tree began with her schoolmates, Majors
Charles and Shirley White in Lynchburg, Va., in 1979 when the couple
realized there were so many children in need of clothing.
The first tree consisted of 700 angel Hallmark greeting cards with the names of children and their sizes written on the back.
Once the couple moved to Nashville, Tenn., in 1982, the Grand Ole Opry
radio station co-sponsored the program and the Angel Tree received
national attention.
According to the organization’s Web site, 31,299,690 people have been
assisted throughout the nation by various sponsored programs of the
Salvation Army. During the holidays 4,643,756 people are aided by the
Salvation Army.
“You share what you have, you don’t judge your neighbor, and when your
neighbor is hungry, you feed them,” Wright said. “There is always
someone in need.”
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