Angel Tree Christmas
The holidays can be a challenging time for families – but none as difficult as families where one or both parents are incarcerated. Under the Team Leader Donna Knapp, and with the hard work of ElIie Nonn and Debbie Miller, All Saints has, for the last three years, provided 25 children with two gifts each; a clothing gift and a fun-time gift, 50 angels in all on our tree. We also include teddy bears and color crayons and color book for the younger children.
The Angel Tree team is responsible for receiving all information from Angel Tree Program in Fresno, for all the paperwork needed to get our program off the ground and also for telephone calls to parents or guardians with whom children live. We set up “Angel Tree Day” at church, distribute the 50 angels to members of the congregation, and coordinate efforts of our church members to deliver gift bags to families.
A Personal Note From Team Leader Donna Knapp
I was especially touched by the response from our congregation in offering to deliver the gift bags to the families We had 17 families this year and I asked several of the new people in our church if they would like to deliver gifts to the families. They all responded with “yes.” I was very happy that I could help one family I made delivery to by providing them with a small tree with lights and ornaments I had left over from mine. (The 3-year-old wanted a tree badly but his family could not afford it.) I took it to them. He was so happy as he ran and put his new gifts under the tree – his very first Christmas tree.