DESIRÉE DECOSTE

STAFF WRITER

“People are being very generous in the county this year,” expressed Sue Rose, organizer of the Angel Tree Program for over 30 years.

Since the Angel Tree office doors open three weeks ago, many people have come forward to donate to the local Christmas charity program. With around 300 kids and their families to distribute to, everyone at the Angel Tree office are beyond grateful for the generosity in the county in such a different year.

“I had a call from the fire department last night,” Rose conveyed. “Some gentleman who owns a company in the county had come in and bought 15 Christmas trees at $50 a piece and donated them. So I’ve been on the phone trying to find homes for these trees, some people I’ve called were in tears sort of thing and were just so happy. Compared to other years were on par. We usually do about 300 kids and their families. When I look at the numbers and where we’re at, we’re on par.”

With covid restrictions the Angel Tree office has to operate a little different this year, anyone coming into the office enters through the front door and anyone with a donation come to the back door where a plexiglass shield is set up to be as safe as possible.

Also for anyone coming to pickup their presents a time slot must be given so as to keep social distancing and everyone as safe as possible.

“It’s just very different this year,” said Rose. “And because we have to go out over two days because we can’t go out a.m. and p.m. in the same day, we have to give everyone a time slot and that’s how we have to do it this year, because we can’t get 150 families out that fast.”

The deadline day for donation drop-offs to the Benson Park address is Dec. 11 as they have to let donations sit for a minimum of three days. Monetary donations are also excepted. Distribution days are Dec 15,16 and 17.

“We’re handing out stuff the 15,16 and 17 and so when stuff comes in we have to let it sit for three days and then we get to work on it kind of thing, so it’s kind of a hindrance but we’re organized to do that but its just different this year.”

Applications are still being excepted for the Angel Tree Program with applications available at the Angel office side door or online.

The Angel Tree Program is operated in coordination with The Children’s Foundation, a charitable arm of Highland Shores Children’s Aid.

For more information on how to donate and/or to fill out an application, please visit http://thechildrensfoundation.ca/?page_id=1575

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