The
Paper Angel Tree
The Salvation Army Angel Tree
The Salvation Army Angel Tree
It
is early Christmas morning. There is excitement throughout the
bedrooms of the children as they are waking up from a night of
restless sleep. An anticipated morning which only comes once a year.
As they eagerly wake their sleeping brothers and sisters to rush them
to the living room, they begin to wonder what kind of presents are awaiting them under the Christmas tree. As soon as everyone is up,
the halls are filled with pidder-paddering footsteps and laughter as
they round the corner into the living room... only to find that there
are not any boxes with big red bows and all the colorful paper
symbolizing what this season is famous for. The season of giving and
receiving. There are no presents under the tree. In some cases, there
is not even a brightly lit tree with the shiny star on top.
At
this point, they are not aware of the financial difficulties and
stress their parents, single parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or
foster parent has faced the days and months leading up to this
holiday season. The children also are not aware of how hard it hurt
the adults to not be able to provide Christmas gifts for them. One of
the parents may have lost their job. One of the parents may have
gotten terminally sick. In some cases, they only have one parent who
is doing every thing they can to strive to float just above water.
The struggle to keep the lights on month to month. The ability to
keep food on the table. The medicines some are required to have just
to live everyday without pain or suffering took the place of a new
doll or train this year.
The
dreams the children had of what was awaiting them under the tree is
washed away by tears and a broken heart. The house is now quiet as
the kids slowly turn to go back to the rooms where the morning began
on a different note. Parents or caregivers are left with a burden
that they failed the child. There is no going back to school and
talking about what they got for Christmas. Only the devastation and embarrassment when other kids ask them questions.
Since
1979, there are many children who were going to be faced with a
Christmas story as described above. However, many children have been
provided with a happier ending thanks to the dream and the vision two
people had to make a difference in the lives of children. Majors
Charles and Shirley White were living in Lynchburg, Virginia, and
were working at a local shopping mall collecting toys and clothing
for children during the Christmas season. There the idea of the
“Angel Tree” program was born.
The
Salvation Army website says this “The program got its name because
the Whites identified the wishes of local children by writing their
gift needs on Hallmark greeting cards featuring pictures of angels
and placing them on a Christmas tree at the mall. Thanks to the
Whites, more than 700 children had a brighter Christmas that first
year. Three years later, when the Whites were transferred to
Nashville, Tennessee, Angel Tree was launched in Music City during
the 1982 Christmas season.”
Children
who are recipients of the Angel Tree gifts are from families who have
applied for Christmas assistance through the Social Services program
of The Salvation Army. During the application and qualification
process, the sizes of the children and special needs and wants of the
children are written on the application. Once the application is approved the personal information is kept confidential. The other
information is then written on the paper “angels”.
If
you have ever had the chance to decorate an angel tree as I have, you
realize the Paper Angel you are holding represents a child in your
community who may not have anything for Christmas. Seeing the names
makes it more personal. You see the first name only of the child. If
it is a boy or a girl. The age of the child. The sizes of clothing
and shoes the child wears. Then you see what the child is wishing
for.
The
“angels” contain a code number which corresponds to the
application number as it was accepted. All children in a family have
the same code number, followed by “1” for the first child, “2”
second child, etc. The “angels” are then placed on Christmas
trees in shopping malls or local businesses where they are selected
by shoppers who then go purchase either the partial or full list as
noted on the “angel”. After items are purchased, the gifts are
taken to The Salvation Army.
Getting
involved in “adopting” an angel off of the tree is simple. You
choose if you want a boy or a girl and the age of the child you would
like to buy for. You do not have to purchase all of the items on the
wish list, just what you can afford. You see something is better than
nothing. You and your co-workers or group at church can adopt a child
together.
This
will be the sixth year I will be hosting a Paper Angel Tree at
Windi's Bridal Boutique in Douglas, Georgia. You see, I was faced with a challenge in
November 2011 by
Country music singer Jimmy Wayne “to partner with my local
Salvation Army to help with the Paper Angel Tree Program.” See, as
a child, Jimmy was a Paper Angel himself so
he knows how important this program is to children. I
wrote a blog about my first experience with sponsoring a tree in my
shop. Each child on the tree has a story to tell. None of the stories are the
same.
I
was so touched by this, I felt impressed to write a blog about it.
Here is the link
http://windiraper-faithjewels.
There is one question I leave you with... Are
you willing to make a difference on Christmas morning in the life a
child who is faced with possibly not having anything under the
Christmas Tree? We are all blessed to be a blessing!
Our first year, there were about 25 children who were adopted. In our second year (2012) there were over 50 children adopted from my shop... I want to also thank those who have been adopters in the past who make this possible every year!!
To find out more about Jimmy Wayne and his story, you may go to his website www.jimmywayne.com
To find out more about Jimmy's Foundation, you may visit Project Meet Me Halfway's website at www.projectmmh.org.
To find a local Salvation Army to participate in the Paper Angel Tree Program, you may search their locations at www.salvationarmyusa.org
*** UPDATE ***
As of 2016, I have continued every year hosting an angel tree in my shop. It is amazing to see the families bringing their children in to choose a child that are excited about making a difference in the life of another child.
Here is the #PaperAngels song & video by Jimmy Wayne!!! It will get you all in the Christmas giving spirit by doing the most good!!!
