Heartland Heroes
By Jon Armentrout
The Angel Tree The Holidays are supposed to be a joyous time of year for everyone, no matter where you are from or where you live. Unfortunately, there are families with children that get excited about this time of year, not knowing that the family cannot afford to gift their children the item that they would like to receive due to many unfortunate circumstances. This is where the Angel Tree by the Salvation Army steps in and assists those families.
Major Connie Morris explained that this year, “The Angel Tree program will reach 3,600 children from age’s newborn to fourteen this Christmas Season.” The program starts November 16 and ends December 16. This provides plenty of time for people that want to get involved, get involved.
The Angel Tree has been around since 1991, providing parent’s assistance to other parents to provide their children with a gift that the kids have asked for. Major Connie Morris has been involved with the Salvation Army for 16 years and has served in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Maryland and Florida. “The parents are a lot of working poor that are trying and just can’t make it because they are underworked,” explained Major Morris. The parents that request assistance apply to the Angel Tree program during school hours, so that their children never have to know what is going on. The children ask for a specific gift, which the parents list on the application. After the parents fill out their application, this is where the true act of giving takes place. The “Angels” go to various places, such as the Lakeland Mall, to select Angels off of the Christmas tree. These “Angels” then provide the child the gift that they are going to be looking for under the Christmas tree. The gifts are then dropped off at the Salvation Army, located in Lakeland, and then distributed to the proper families to ensure that the gifts reach the children before Christmas. Nathan Fetz checking donated bikes in preparation of distribution.
(Above) Juan and Jose with mother Amanda receiving angel tree gifts.
Major Morris explained that out of all the places she has been to, she has not seen an area that is as generous as Lakeland. This statement echoes the support that is out there for children that are in need. On December 19, they start to distribute the gifts to ensure that the parents have their children’s gifts in plenty of time to wrap them. Just when you thought that the Angel Tree Program could not do any more to assist children and families in need, Major Morris said there was more that they assist with. “The Salvation Army has a stocking stuffer and shoe program to help these children and families as well.” After all this there is still more! The Salvation Army continues to partner with Publix in order to help some of these same families by providing Christmas Dinner. These cards can be purchased as dinners for families that can’t afford to provide a Christmas Dinner for their families. If you would like more information about the Angel Tree Program in Lakeland you can contact them at (863) 853-2214 and to contact the Angel Tree Program in Sebring you can call a (863) 385-7548. There are numerous Salvation Army locations throughout the Heartland and any assistance is always greatly appreciated. ¢
66 | Holiday Issue 2013 Heartland
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