Every December a charity program called Angel Tree is ran by the Salvation Army. The Angel Tree is an opportunity to do something kind and donate Christmas presents to those in need. Each Christmas, I participate in this charity and I think more people should too!
My family and I have always done Angel Tree every Christmas. The way Angel Tree works is you go and “adopt” a boy and a girl from the tree to buyout presents for. We would go to our local mall where there would be a large tree with name tags attached to it. Each name tag has the person’s gender, age and what they would like for Christmas.
My parents would include my brother and I into picking out our person and taking us shopping for them. By doing this, shopping for the Angel Tree people felt more personal and it felt like I was actually helping the cause. Participating in Angel Tree every year turned into a tradition that I think more people should try.
Angel Tree is important to me because everyone deserves to open a present on Christmas morning. The joy of receiving a gift during the holiday is such a special feeling that you never forget. By doing Angel Tree, you can give back to others and know that you’re directly helping someone in need. Growing up and doing this during Christmas, I feel like I have grasped a better understanding of what it means to help those in my community.
I have always been taught that Christmas is all about giving back to others and this is a perfect way to honor that idea!
For many people who are on the Angel Tree tags, the gifts you get are mostly the only things they will get for Christmas. That’s why it’s important to try and go above and beyond just necessities, but also look at what they are hoping for. Angel Tree started as a way to bring attention to the people who are less fortunate and are struggling during December. Seeing things like people wanting deodorant and gloves really puts into perspective how much this charity means to those receiving the gifts. During the holidays, we can get so wrapped up in our own worlds, we often forget how lucky we are. Angel Tree may seem like a small thing to some, but knowing that I was able to give to those in need makes my Christmas.
If you are interested in trying to do Angel Tree, it’s very easy. You can head to your local mall like Briarwood or Walmart and pick a person to give to. All tags have dates on when you need to bring the toys and products to a drop-off location. It’s important to make sure that you have all your gifts in by that date because if you don’t, the person will not receive it. I highly recommend everyone to at least participate in Angel Tree once to see if they, too will, make it a tradition.
