We did it!

To say that everything about the Angel Tree Campaign was different in 2023 would be an understatement! The only thing that was the same was that we were able to provide gifts for Christmas for over 300 local children

Our location, office staff, application process, organizers, even the hours we kept, all changed this year.

When the group that operated the program for almost 40 years decided to retire and the umbrella group the Children’s Foundation realized they were unable to pick it up and have it continue in the same manner, the Angel Tree was slated to be scaled back and operated through the Belleville office. 

With Benson Hall unavailable this year, St. Mary Magdalene Parish Hall was selected as an alternate space. When I reached out to our previous organizer, Sue Rose, for the details, she said she was going to retire, and was worried the program would be cancelled. I felt there was something we could do to have the program continue as it has for nearly four decades.

Councillor Phil St.Jean felt the same way. We met to determine a path forward. Phil would look after the food hamper program and I would run the office. I had absolutely no problem finding volunteers to help. We met with the Belleville group to get an idea of what the process was, scheduled our office hours and crossed our fingers!

And boy, did the County deliver! As fast as the angels arrived, they were plucked off the tree. The financial donations kept coming and coming, and the gift were totally overwhelming! The core group of volunteers spent dozens of hours adding these gifts to the packages to be handed out.

Delivery day arrived to have the gifts picked up. It was hectic, long and physically demanding. We made sense out of the chaos, and gift bags and food hampers – with all the fixings for Christmas dinner – were distributed in time for the big day.

The volunteers learned much and have some ideas for 2024. It’s incredibly heartening to know all the families that applied to this year’s Angel Tree were able to have a great Christmas.

This massive effort was only possible with the help of the legion of volunteers…..from office help, to shoppers, to packers, box builders, social media gurus…..on and on. 

Thanks to all who helped in any way, from those who selected Angels from the tree to those who donated funds and gifts.

We are truly a remarkable community!

Julie Miller

Picton