MIKE ATHEY
MANSFIELD ET PONTEFRACT
Dec. 2, 2020
An angel tree campaign is starting up again in Mansfield et Pontefract for its fourth year in a row to connect generous community members to kids who need a little boost this Christmas.
Donors wanting to buy a gift for a child can contact the organization and they will be provided the age and gender for their secret recipient. They will then be tasked to purchase a gift between $25 and $30, wrap it, and deliver it to the Mansfield et Pontefract Fire Department.
Volunteer Claudette Pleau, who has been answering phone calls and messages of those wanting to help out, said that this year’s campaign is . . .
being held in the honour of Sylvain Bégin, who passed away this fall. Along with his wife Danielle, Bégin started the area’s angel tree project and they have maintained it over the years.
“We want to continue what he was doing, him and his wife,” said Pleau, “So that the kids … have something for Christmas.”
The idea to continue came shortly after Bégin’s funeral when Fire Chief Pat Bertrand started receiving phone calls from citizens who wanted to donate towards the angel trees to make sure Bégin’s legacy continued. Bégin was a firefighter for many years so the decision to honour him came naturally.
“That’s when I decided to talk to the guys and said, ‘You know what, we need to continue this tradition. There’s people that want to give money right away to help this cause.’”
The angel trees may have started in Mansfield et Pontefract, but they service the entirety of the Pontiac. They are continuing their long-time partnership with Bouffe Pontiac, a food bank based in Campbell’s Bay. This year also saw the Knights of Colombus council 7221 lend their support.
Bouffe has been involved with the angel tree campaign since the start and has provided support to help transition to the new team that took over from Bégin. Bouffe also compiled a list of children in need for their own Christmas Food Basket drive and has shared it with the angel tree organizers.
“Everyone who actually benefits from a food basket with children, they automatically subscribe to the angel tree,” said Bouffe Director Kim Laroche. She also said that Bouffe would assist in the deliveries around the Pontiac.
Those wanting to drop off gifts can do so to the Mansfield et Pontefract fire hall on Dec. 5 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Dec. 6 between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Dec. 9 between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
