The volunteers organizing Angel Tree projects across the Pontiac are hard at work making sure children of families in need of a little support this holiday season will still receive their wishlist items.
Every year, these Angel Tree projects help connect anonymous young “angels”, who have submitted a wish list, with sponsors who commit to making these wishes come true, and this year has been no exception.
Projects based in Quyon, Shawville, Otter Lake, Campbell’s Bay, Mansfield and others will make it possible for over 200 children to receive a gift from under the tree on Christmas Day.
In Mansfield, organizer Claudette Pleau said the community’s Angel Tree program has 122 kids this year, up significantly from last year’s 93, and that all have sponsors.
Andrea Lafleur, manager of the Otter Lake and Thorne program, said she had 22 kids this year, up only one from last year, and that there are still angels available for sponsoring. The deadline to drop off gifts at trees at the Ladysmith Hotel, Bretzlaff’s Store, Coin Picanoc, Beauchamp Service, Scooter’s Bar and Grill, or Dale’s Home Building Center is Dec. 17.
In Quyon, where the program is a joint effort between the Legion and the Family Centre, the program works a bit differently, collecting monetary donations that it pools to buy gifts for the angels instead of matching them with sponsors. It has 30 kids this year, up from last year’s 27. The deadline to register a kid to receive a gift, or to donate money to the Quyon Angel Tree is Dec. 15.
Megan Coleman, who has been the driving force behind the Angel Tree program based in Shawville for several years now, said while last year saw a jump from the year prior in children requesting gifts, the number of registered kids seems to have stabilized at 83 this year.
“Some of our families had children who aged out of the program, so we don’t have them this year, and then we got some new ones that we’ve never had before, that have much younger kids,” she said. “So I was happy to hear that word of our program was spreading, and getting to the newer families that may need us, and it’s not just the same families each year.”
Coleman put a tree at Giant Tiger, at Pontiac High School, and at the Familiprix pharmacy. As of Dec. 5, she said there were 10 angels left, and that she would be closing the program on Dec. 12, using money donated from various local businesses and community groups to sponsor the remaining angels.
She said she also tries to send some school snacks as well as underwear and socks with each gift.
“Those are things everybody can use, regardless of whether they’ve asked for them or not.”
It’s of course not only those coordinating the gift giving who deserve applause for this effort. Businesses, community groups and individuals across the Pontiac have stepped up in the past year, raising money for the cause.
The Parent Hive, a newly formed parents group in Campbell’s Bay, was among the many throwing their support behind this year’s Angel Tree initiatives.
In November, the group hosted a Christmas movie night at the Campbell’s Bay RA hall to raise funds for the charity.
“Despite the freezing rain weather, the event was a great success, with about 30 children coming out to enjoy a festive evening,” said Parent Hive member Chanelle Shea, noting the event raised enough money to support 10 angels.
“We chose the Angel Tree program because many of us on the committee have young children, and we understand how magical Christmas morning can be. We believe every parent and child deserves to experience that same joy.”
