Angel Tree Helps Needy Children at Christmas 11/21/06

The Town of Holly Springs is enlisting your help in ensuring that children from needy families share the joy of the holidays.

The Town is participating again this year in an Angel Tree collection of toys and clothing. Recipients are Holly Springs school children whose families are going through difficult times financially.

Visit Holly Springs Town Hall and select one or more paper angels from the Christmas tree in the lobby. Each angel has a gift wish or clothing choice for a child, who is not named. Fill out a sponsor information sheet and place it in the basket.

Securely fasten the angel to the gift and indicate the contents. Please make sure your angel's number is on the gift so it goes to the right child. Return the gift or gifts to the lobby by Dec. 13. Gift wrapping is preferred, but not necessary.

Annmarie Forbis, a coordinator of the Town's Angel Tree project, said it's fun to share the holiday spirit with families who might otherwise miss out. Eighty-nine children are on the Angel Tree list this year.

“It's a project that is most rewarding,” Forbis said. “We're giving to those in need – our neighbors.”

Jasmine Cope, a school social worker who compiled the list of recipients, said there are many families in need even though poverty may be “off the beaten path.” The holidays can be particularly stressful for needy families when their children are surrounded by affluence.

Angel tree organizers hope that each child will receive an article of clothing and one or more age-appropriate toys. No dollar amount is set for the gifts. Although some are expensive items such as bicycles, Angel Tree organizers don't want donors to feel compelled to spend a lot.

Recipients' families do not have to meet an income threshold to qualify for assistance. Rather than seeking assistance when they don't need it, Cope said, it's more likely that recipients won't ask for the help they really need.

“We've had people say, ‘Oh, no, I'm OK',” Cope said. “And OK to them means, I'll try to put something together.'”

For more information on the Angel Tree project, contact the Human Resources Department for the Town of Holly Springs. Call Forbis at (919) 557-2922 or Erika Phillips at (919) 557-3911 .

A family receiving help could be a working mother with several kids or a family affected by job layoff or serious illness. Some recipients have not gone through such financial hard times before and feel awkward accepting the kindness of strangers.

“You've got a lot of need,” Cope said, “and a lot of people wanting to help

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Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us