The Angel Tree is back in Campbell River.
"Basically, Angel Tree provides gifts for children at Christmas time who otherwise wouldn't likely receive a gift," said Dawn Hamilton, the president of the Angel Tree Society. "We use specific agencies in town, and the (social) worker working with the family identifies the family as in need, and we then write a tag for that child. People in the community can choose a child to purchase gifts for or sponsor a child. On the tag are the needs, wants and/or wishes the child has. Some of the needs are things like clothing, boots, diapers, sometimes formula and toiletries. The basic needs."
Someone will then choose a tag and shop for the child the tag represents. Since this is a virtual event, shoppers can request a tag through email (angeltreesociety@gmail.com) or Facebook Messenger. People interested will have to provide the following information: name, phone number, email, how many tags/children they would like to shop for and any preference for age or gender.
In return, the Angel Tree Society will let the shopper know, the sizes, needs and Christmas wishes for the child, and other details such as the child's favourite colour and interests, the tag number, and when and where to drop off the gifts. The gifts are due by Dec. 8.
The gifts are sorted by the society and gift-wrapped by volunteers.
"The biggest thing, for me, is that it's such a huge community effort. It's the folks that come to the tree, and they pull the tag and shop for the child, it's the companies that have a Christmas party and instead of providing gifts for each other, they say to bring an unwrapped toy. We partner with Wicked Cycles which does their bikes for kid program," said Hamilton.
Wicked Cycles fix up bikes donated to them. The Angel Tree Society will match some of the bikes to children who wish for them. Hamilton says about 25 kids will get bikes for Christmas gifts this year.
Hamilton said that companies and people can donate money instead of purchasing a gift. The donated money is used to fulfill unfilled tags or supplement gifts for kids who may have received their wishes or wants, but not their needs, like a winter jacket or new socks.
Donations can be sent via e-transfer to angeltreesociety@gmail.com Cheques and cash are accepted. All donations over $20 are eligible for a charitable tax receipt, which will be mailed by the end of December.
Around 332 children will get gifts this year due to the Angel Tree, which Hamilton says is a similar number to last year.
